Disclaimer: I do not own My Chemical Romance and this never happened. Do not steal my story and do not sue me. Thank you.

***

It was a normal summer day in New Jersey. Once again the Way brothers were trapped inside their house that just had to be in one of the most dangerous part of town to live in.


Today was slightly different. Today the two brother were going to be home alone and that meant they would be able to get out of the house, if only for a short amount of time.


"Now, Gerard, remember not to go outside unless it's absolutely necessary. Keep an eye on Michael and don't open the door for anyone. The emergency numbers are by the phone and your father and I will be back in an hour." Mrs. Way said, drilling the same words into Gerard's head just like every single time they went out.


"I understand, mom." Gerard said lazily and rolled his eyes as she turned her back to him. Mrs. Way grabbed her purse, "If you're hungry please use the microwave, I don't need you to burn the house down. And I don't want..."


"Honey, come on, we're going to be late." Mr. Way said, putting his arm around his wife and leading her to the door. "You boys be good." he said to them as he closed the door, leaving the small living room looking dark and gloomy.


"Finally!" Gerard cried out. He looked to his younger brother, Michael, who was called Mikey by everyone else besides their parents. Gerard was 13 years old, a big year for him. To Gerard, this meant he was a teenager and he strutted around the house like he was an adult. The only person who looked up to him was Mikey. But Mikey didn't know better, he was 10 and what could a 10 year old possibly know?


Gerard was Mikey's bestfriend and vice-versa. They were the only playmates they had ever known. Sure, they had friends but they rarely saw them outside of school. It was never safe to go out and play. At least, that's what Mrs. Way always said. Gerard liked to think she was ruining their fun but when she yelled at him to go to his room and he soon heard the gunshots outside, he'd thank his mother. But never to her face.


But Gerard never learned lessons, well not quickly. He already had this day planned for a week. He called his best friend, Ray, and they planned to meet at the comic store 6 blocks away. Gerard would take his bike, making sure he had a chain and lock. But no one would steal Gerard's bike. His parents never invested on getting him the new bike he had wanted for years but eventually lost the desire for. It didn't matter to him anymore.


"I'm going to the comic book store, do you want anything?" Gerard asked Mikey. His mother would never leave a 10 year old home alone but Gerard wasn't like his mother and he didn't care. Mikey looked up at his brother, thinking of what he wanted.


"Can you get me a Spiderman comic and gum?" he asked. Gerard nodded, "Yeah, sure thing. I'll be back in a little bit." he said, ruffling his brother's hair and getting out of the house as fast as he could.


Mikey didn't like being home alone. The house was old and creaked and when he was alone the creaking sounds couldn't be explained because no one was there to cause them. Mikey sighed and got up. He decided he'd go outside for a few minutes and get some fresh air.


When Mikey went out on the front porch, he saw Gerard on his bike down the street. He wanted to go with Gerard but he was never invited and Gerard got upset when he asked.


Mikey sat on the porch steps and let the sun fall on his pale skin. He never tanned because he was hardly in the sun. He wanted to go swimming but his mother told him the community pool had poisoned water so he was afraid to go there. But he didn't even know how to swim so it didn't matter.


And that's all Mikey did. He sat there thinking and then he heard a muffled sound. He strained his ears as he sat up straight. It was crying. But who would be outside in this weather just to cry? Mikey was only 10 years old and 10 year olds are curious. So Mikey got up and followed the sound which was on the side of his house in the narrow walkway between the wall and the shrubs outlining the property.


Mikey adjusted his glasses as he saw a lumb on against the wall. It took a few moments for Mikey to realize the lump was actually a person and he took a few steps back. He brushed the shubs as he backed away and the figure lifted their head and started to scamper backwards.


Mikey was frozen in place. He was scared but so curious. He didn't move forward or back but called out to the person, "Why are you crying?"


Whoever the shadowed figure was, they didn't answer. Mikey became a bit brave and took a step closer. The person went back more. "I'm not bad, I'm not going to hurt you." Mikey said, trying to reason with the person.


Mikey held his hand out and stepped closer again. This time the figure didn't move back. It didn't move at all. Mikey slowly walked closer with his hand held out until he was close enough for the person to take his hand.


The hand was small, smaller then Mikey's and he helped pull the person up. Mikey had to squint to see but it was a girl. A small girl. Smaller then Mikey. "Hi, I'm Mikey." he said to the girl. She stared at him with large, brown eyes.


Mikey noticed her face was dirty. In fact, everything was dirty. There were stains down her cheek wear the tears carried away dirt with them.


The little girl said nothing and Mikey led her out of the shade and into the light. He could see her better now. She pretty, Mikey thought. She had brown hair that were in messy pigtail braids and tied with dirty pink ribbons. She had on light purple overalls and a pink shirt. She was wearing brown sandals that looked worse then Gerard's shoes and that's saying something.


"What's your name?" Mikey asked the little girl. The girl opened her mouth and spoke but Mikey couldn't understand a word she said. He got scared. Maybe this person was evil, he thought. But she was too pretty to be evil.


Mikey didn't know what to do. This was something Gerard would handle but he was at the comic book store with Ray buying soda and sneaking looks at the adult magazines when no one was looking. Sometimes Gerard would steal and share with Mikey. Mikey appreciated that Gerard would risk getting caught to share with him.


Mikey was very confused and he took the girl's hand again and he brought her inside where the two of them would be safe. When he had the door safely locked he looked at the girl and noticed she had string around her neck and could see something under her shirt. It looked like paper. He had never seen a paper necklace and thought it was silly.


The girl spoke to Mikey and he got nervous. He still had no idea what she had said. It was scaring him more now. She spoke again, this time rubbing her stomach with her hand. Mikey recognized the motion and realized she was hungry.


Mikey wasn't allowed to use the stove and he couldn't use the microwave. He always ruined his food in the microwave. He went to the kitchen table and pulled out a seat and patted it. The girl came over and sat down as Mikey went to get food.


There wasn't much Mikey could do so he ended up taking out a box of cereal and showed it to the girl. "Is this ok?" he asked, doubting she understood him. He pointed to the box and she nodded. He put the box on a counter and got milk, two bowls, and two spoons.


He brought everything over and set it on the kitchen table and sat himself across the table from the girl. Mikey poured cereal and milk in a bowl and slid it across the table. The girl took it gratefully and took a spoon and began to eat. Mikey poured himself a bowl and ate as well.


Mikey was getting nervous. His parents would be home soon and Gerard wasn't back yet. What would happen if he didn't come home before his parents did? They'd get mad, Mikey knew that. Would they get mad that Mikey had someone in the house that wasn't in their family? He didn't know about that and it made him more nervous.


The girl poured herself another bowl and continued eating. There was pounding at the door and Mikey knew it was Gerard. The girl looked up, she looked scared. "It's ok. Keep eating." he said to her. He figured she understood because she went back to eating as he went to the living room to open the door.


"Here, take these, quick." Gerard said, pushing a brown paper bag into his chest. He clasped his arms around and watched as his brother went running up the steps.


Mikey knew that Gerard was going to take a bath. He had to get the dirt and sweat off or his parents would surely know he had gone outside. Mikey had to hide the bag before his parents came home, it was another sign to tell that Gerard had disobeyed their orders.


He didn't know what to do so Mikey ran down to the basement and put them on Gerard's desk. The basement was their playroom. Mikey would come down here to play video games with Gerard or sit in his bean bag chair and watch Gerard draw. Gerard liked to draw. He was good at it but he never boasted about it.


Mikey heard the front door open and his heart began race. They were going to find the girl and he'd get in trouble. He ran upstairs and bumped right into his father.


"Whoa, Michael, slow down. You look like you've seen a ghost." Mr. Way said, patting Mikey on the head. Everyone patted Mikey on the head, it was because he was small and his head was the closest thing to their hand, Gerard had told him.


Mikey looked up at his father, "I have a problem." he said. Mr. Way looked down at his son, "Let's get something to eat in the kitchen and we'll talk about your problem." he said and began to lead Mikey into the kitchen.


"No!" Mikey cried out and pulled on his father's arm to try and pull him away. "Michael, what is wrong with you?" he asked.


Mikey didn't know what to say so his father pulled away and went into the kitchen. Mikey followed behind him a few steps back. Mr. Way saw the little girl at the table. He glared at Mikey and he realized he was in big trouble.


Mr. Way wasn't a mean person but Mikey broke a rule and he would be punished for it. "Hello, there." Mr. Way said to the girl. She said nothing but stared at him and then to Mikey and said something that shocked Mr. Way.


"Excuse me, can you speak in english?" Mr. Way asked the girl. She shook her head. She could just barely understand him. "What's your name?" Mr. Way asked, listening intently to pick up what language this girl was speaking.


Mr. Way just blinked rapidly. He was so confused and wondered why on earth Mikey would be friends with her. He asked Mikey to come out to the living room with him and he asked, "Who is this girl?"


Mikey shrugged, "She was crying and she looked lost so I helped her." he said. Maybe his father would be proud of him. He was always taught to help others.


"Michael, where did you find her?" Mr. Way asked, staring intently at his son. Before Mikey could answer, Mrs. Way came down the stairs, "It feels so good to get out of those heels." she said.


Mrs. Way noticed something was wrong and quickly asked what was happening. Mr. Way explained the situation and then both parents were asking Mikey where he found her.


Mikey looked down at his feet, "I found her on the side of the house. She was crying so I helped her. You always tell me to help someone when they need it and she looked like she needed it."


"Should we call the police?" Mr. Way asked Mrs. Way. They soon began to converse, acting as if Mikey wasn't in the room. He took the opportunity to sneak away and went in the kitchen. The girl was standing now and she had pulled her paper necklace from under her shirt and held it in her hands.


It was a folded piece of paper and Mikey could see handwriting scribbled on it. "Mom!" he called out to her. A few moments later his parents were in the kitchen. "What is it, Michael?" Mrs. Way asked.


"Look." Mikey said pointing at the paper. Mr. Way walked past Mikey and held his hand out to the girl. She ripped the paper from her necklace and handed it to Mr. Way. "Good girl." he said and patted her on the head.


Mr. Way unfolded the paper and read it. It took him a long time and Mikey wanted to know what it said. "Come with me." Mr. Way said, taking Mrs. Way back out to the living room.


Mikey looked at the girl and then sneaked out to hear what his parents had to say. He watched as his father read the letter to his mother.


"If you find this girl, she is my daughter, Isabella, she is 4 and a half. My name is Breno Stagno and I have made some decisions in my life that have endangered my family and myself. Isabella is all I have left and she is not safe with me no longer. Please do not call the police or else her life will be threatened. The police are corrupt and will do to my daughter as they did to my family. She speaks no english. She speaks italian. Please take care of her and do not let the police get her. On the back is her information but please keep her safe."


Mr. Way handed the letter to Mrs. Way who shook her head, "This is insane. Why did Michael have to find her? We can't do anything. We're going to have to keep her." Mr. Way said.


"No! This is insane. What does this guy do, work in the mafia?" she asked. Mr. Way shrugged, "I don't know but I'd feel really shitty if I turned this girl away."


Mrs. Way noticed Mikey and glared at him, "Go upstairs!" she yelled at him. Mikey got up and ran up the steps as fast as he could and went straight to the room he shared with Gerard. Gerard was still in the shower.


Mikey fell to the floor and strained his ears as he tried to hear what his parents were saying through the vent on bottom of the wall.


"What are they talking about?" Gerard as he suddenly came in. This scared Mikey and he yelped. Gerard shook his head as he sat on his bed in nothing but a towel.


"Shhh!" Mikey said, spitting all over the place and went back to listening. Gerard rolled his eyes and got dressed, trying not to trip over Mikey.


It wasn't long before Mikey's parents called him downstairs. Gerard went down with him but only to go down to the basement. Gerard saw the little girl on the couch and became curious about what was going on. Instead of going to the basement. He went to the kitchen and then came back out to where Mikey was hiding before.


"Gerard, I know you are there." Mr. Way growled and looked straight at Gerard. He gulped and stood up and began to head for the basement door. "Gerard. Sit." Mr. Way ordered and Gerard did as he was told.


Mrs. Way looked at Mr. Way and then started coughing nervously. "Something interesting has happened today." Mrs. Way started. She looked to her husband and he continued for her, "This girl is Isabella and she will part of the family." he said quickly.


Mr. Way thought it'd be simple to spit it out and not make it seem like a big deal. But it was a big. Gerard was furious. He was a teenager and he was allowed to get furious. This meant he had to watch another brat. So now Mikey was a brat and it hurt his feelings. He didn't want Gerard to be mad at him but he was.


"I'm not going to let this happen. Just because Mikey finds some little playmate doesn't mean we have to take her in!" Gerard complained. He thought raising his voice would. It never did. It made his parents upset and when he made his parents upset he would get grounded and he really didn't care at the moment.


The girl sat there the whole time, looking at everyone. She was confused and scared. She had a right to be scared. She didn't understand what they were saying. She missed her family. Her whole family was gone. Maybe she was the one who was gone. She was away from them so she was gone. But maybe they left her so they were gone. It was too much for Isabella to think about and she soon started crying, muttering in the foreign language but saying, "Mama, mama." repeatedly.


"Look what you've done, you brat!" Mrs. Way yelled at Gerard. He didn't have to take this. He was a man. He was pratically an adult and he didn't have to take any of this. He stuck his chin out, stood up and walked away quickly.


Mikey tried covering his ears. How could such a small thing make such a big noise? Mikey thought as his parents tried to calm the girl down. Was she his sister now? She wasn't related to him but what was she to him? He didn't know and he was afraid to ask.


"Michael, come here." Mr. Way said. Mikey got off the couch and stood next to his father, "Why don't you play with her?" Mr. Way suggested. Mikey frowned. Mikey only played with Gerard. Maybe that's why Gerard was mad, because then they wouldn't play together like usual.


Mikey opened his mouth, ready to whine but his mother glared at him and he took Isabella's hand and nearly dragged her to the basement door. Mikey began to walk down the steps quickly and when he was at the bottom he watched as Isabella grabbed the rail and slowly went down, one step at a time.


"Hurry up!" he whined. Mikey was bigger then Isabella and he was used to steps. Isabella was used to being carried, her family was never patient so they picked her up.


Gerard was in the basement, Mikey didn't know. But Gerard was at his desk and glared as Isabella and said, "What a waste of life."


This scared Mikey. Mikey jumped and almost fell back, making Gerard laugh. Gerard was drawing in his favorite leather covered sketchbook. Some girl gave it to Gerard. Gerard liked girls and they liked him. They all liked him. He was smooth and cool and Mikey looked up to Gerard because of that.


"We should get rid of the brat." Gerard growled and went back to drawing. Mikey didn't know what to say, he felt bad for Isabella. Her whole life was going to change and then he felt bad for himself because his whole life was going to change.


-----------------------------------------------------------------


The infernal beeping. Mikey's alarm clock. Why he had one, he didn't know. He never woke up anyways. He hit the snooze and went back to bed and was always woken by his sister, Isabella. But she wasn't his sister. She was just some girl who had been living with his family for.... too many years. He lost count. But he didn't hate her. She was like a sister and Mikey did love her.


"Mikey, wake up! You're going to be late for work!" she yelled. She had been speaking english for many years now. She still had a heavy accent. She refused to give up speaking italian and insisted she teach Mikey but he refused.

Isabella was only 16 and that would mean Mikey was 21 and Gerard was 24. They all grew up. It's not like they couldn't stop growing up. Things changed over the years. Mikey and Gerard had moved to the basement and Isabella had their own room.


"Fuck, why do you wake up so early when you don't have to?" Mikey asked as he rolled on his back and looked up the steps to see Isabella waiting for him to get up. She knew better then to leave now because he'd go back to sleep.


Isabella rolled her eyes, a habit she had picked up from Gerard. "Just come on. I made you breakfast." she said. Mikey got up quickly. He liked Isabella's food. She knew how to cook well and it was rare that she cooked. His mom didn't like having anyone in the kitchen. She didn't trust them. Not even Gerard who was 24.


Gerard wasn't home. It was only 7 in the morning but everyone knew Gerard was at a a girl's house. No one cared where Gerard slept just as long as he slept. Gerard was like vampire, Mikey told Isabella once when he was 16 and she was 10,almost 11. It scared Isabella and she became afraid to show her neck around Gerard.


When Gerard found out why Isabella was afraid, he began to tease her by making hissing sounds and wearing fake plastic teeth. Gerard liked teasing Isabella. She was an easy target. Gerard used to hate Isabella. But then he liked her. He had a crush on her once, two years ago. He called himself sick in the head and never thought about it again. But Gerard liked to look at her. She was pretty, if he was in a good mood he'd say she was perfect.


Isabella had brown hair and brown eyes. She had soft, smooth olive skin and she was tan. She was always tanned. She wasn't allowed outside but she was always tanned and Mikey envied her. But he began to like being pale. Gerard liked being pale so he liked being pale too. But what Gerard liked most about Isabella was her growing chest.


When Gerard decided he liked Isabella, he instantly decided he was a pervert and didn't like her. It made no sense to him but it didn't matter anymore because Gerard was older and wiser and he didn't make stupid mistakes. Even that made no sense but he didn't care. It wasn't important.


Gerard was an artist now. He had gone to school for art and he drew a lot. He liked using Isabella as a model and always had her sit in the basement late at night while Mikey tried to sleep. Isabella liked that Gerard used her as a model. Mikey didn't. It kept him up all night because of the light and he wondered how Isabella could be up till really late at night or early in the morning and still be up around 6.


"Good waffles." Mikey mumbled with delight as he ate. He never told Isabella she was a good cook. He figured she already knew. Isabella was smart. She knew these things.


Isabella began to clean her mess up, and asked Mikey what time he had band practice. Mikey was in a band. So was Gerard. Mikey played bass guitar and Gerard sang. It only seemed natural that if Gerard would do this, so would Mikey. They played with their friends. Ray Toro and Frank Iero. They had been friends for a long time so it was also natural that they would play with Gerard and Mikey.


Mikey didn't wait to swallow and he answered her, spraying food from his mouth, "6:30, are you coming?" he answered and then asked. Isabella nodded, "But only if Gerard promises not to have a hissy fit."


Mikey smiled, he liked hearing Isabella's voice. It was so different and unique and he loved how she pronounced 'hissy fit'. Mikey nodded. He would have to talk to Frank and Gerard. Frank was 19, almost 20 and he liked Isabella who was only 16. Gerard said Frank was too old for her but he didn't like anyone being with Isabella. She was too young, he always told her.


"Just don't let Frank come to close to you, ok?" Mikey suggested and got up. He took his empty plate and put it in the sink. Isabella nodded and made her way over to the sink to clean Mikey's plate.


Mikey leaned over and pressed a friendly kiss to her cheek, "Thanks for breakfast. See you tonight." he said and went to get ready for work.


It was almost 5 when Isabella decided to get ready. Frank was coming to get her and he'd be here by 6. He always came a half hour late. So when Frank said he'd be there by 5:30, Isabella said she'd see him at 6.


Isabella liked Frank. A lot. But she never told him. She let him flirt with her and she enjoyed it. Gerard hated seeing her with Frank so she never wanted a relationship with Frank. Well not until she was old enough. Gerard said she was too young for love. Gerard was smart about these things. Isabella was only book smart so she almost always listened to Gerard.


Isabella didn't take long to get ready. She could never wear make up, it got Gerard upset and Isabella didn't like upsetting Gerard. She also never wore anything even the tiniest bit revealing. Gerard forbid that too. He didn't like her showing much skin, sometimes he made her wear sweaters in the summer. He wore a leather jacket in the summer time so he didn't think Isabella would have a probelm in a sweater. But he always wore his leather jacket.


She had just slipped into her sandals when she heard the door bell ring. That was odd. Frank never rang the door bell. Frank always waited outside and honked the horn. But Frank was usually odd so it was nothing odd at all.


Isabella ran down the steps as fast as she could and nearly crashed into the door. She took a few deep breaths and tried to calm down. But how could she be calm? Everytime she saw Frank her heart skipped a beat. Well, she doubted it actually skipped a beat but she liked using the phrase. It didn't matter how many beats her heart missed, though, Isabella would not do anything Gerard didn't want her to do.


Finally Isabella opened the door, almost blinded by the setting sun that shined in her eyes. She wasn't completely blind. She could see Frank and she smiled while covering her eyes. "Hi, Isabella." he said. Isabella greeted him back and let him in the house.


"This is for you." Frank said to Isabella and handed her a single pink rose. Isabella blushed and accepted the flower, "Thank you, Frank. You're too kind." she said and kissed him on the cheek quickly. They both blushed but Isabella blushed even more. No one ever gave Isabella flowers before. That's because Gerard threatened any boy who wanted to. Only Frank was the only one not afraid of Gerard.


Isabella told Frank to hang on a second and she put the rose in a glass of water in the kitchen and then rejoined Frank in the living room. "Are you ready to go?" Frank asked. Isabella nodded and Frank led her out the door. Isabella remembered to lock the door as she left and walked with Frank to the sidewalk to his car.


Frank opened the passenger door for Isabella and she smiled at him as she got in. He was the romantic type, always holding doors open, putting his coat in a puddle, treating a girl with respect. Frank was an ideal guy, girls around here rarely found someone as perfect as Frank. To everyone he was perfect, but he never thought he was. He had black hair that was at his shoulders which could change any day. It could be short and red tomorrow. His eyes were large but adorable and soft and beautiful. Frank was physically flawless. But his life was full of problems that no one ever knew about.


"Did Gerard come home last night?" Frank asked Isabella on the way to Ray's house. Practice was always at Ray's house. It was decided without being decided that practices would be at Ray's house.


Isabella shook her head, "No, he didn't." she answered. That were the only things that were spoken during the entire ride. Both Isabella and Frank were shy and nervous. They were stuck in the flirting stage becaue a relationship was not allowed to happen.


When Frank pulled up into Ray's driveway, he noticed there were no cars there. "Where is everyone?" Frank asked more to himself then to Isabella. She was confused as well. Mikey and Gerard both had their own cars and they weren't here and Ray didn't have a car. And there drummer of the week wasn't there as well.


"Let's just go inside. I'm sure they'll show up." Isabella suggested to Frank. There was no othe choice so Frank got out of the car and ran over to Isabella's door and opened it for her. She blushed and smiled as she got out and said, "You really don't need to do that." Frank blushed and apologized. He put his arm around her lightly, not sure if she was comfortable with the gesture and led her into the house.


Isabella didn't mind that Frank had his arm around her but she was worried that if Gerard came, he'd be very upset. She decided it wasn't worth worrying about so she focused on what was going on now and that meant Frank.


Isabella had been to a few practices before. She had started coming more often after discovering Frank liked her and didn't see her as Gerard's sister even though she wasn't his sister but it was still the same.


They went down to the basement where all the equipment was and Ray was down there, sitting on a couch and messing round with his guitar. "Wow, someone decided to show up." Ray said sarcastically.


Ray didn't notice Isabella because she was in the shadows but when she stepped forward into the light his jaw dropped, "I hope Gerard doesn't know you two came together. You better hope that if he comes, he comes after Mikey." he said to them. Isabella didn't answer him but Frank growled at Ray, "I don't care what he does. This shouldn't involve him."


There was tension in the room and an awkward silence as well. Isabella was used to this feeling. There were so many times when she'd be in a room alone with Gerard and she just didn't feel comfortable. It was like an unspoken arguement about nothing.


Frank didn't like the current situation so he wlked over to his guitar that was leaned againt the wall and told Isabella to sit down and him and Ray would show her some stuff they were working on.


"This song is called 'Ray's a Stupid Mexican.'" Frank said, grinning at Isabella and then to Ray. Ray stuck his tongue out at Frank and gave him the finger. "Anyways, here it goes." Frank said and started playing what would soon be called 'Our Lady of Sorrows.'


Ray played as well and Isabella watched with fasicnation. They were so in tune with each other and they knew everything perfectly. She could just imagine her brother's voice like it was actually there. She could hear every note of her brother's smooth voice and then she realized something. Her brother was actually singing. She almost freaked out as she looked up to see him singing but glaring at her.


"Stop." Gerard said before he even finished the song. Both Ray and Frank stopped and looked at Gerard curiously. Gerard pointed at Isabella, "You, come with me." he ordered her. Frank stood up and blocked Gerard from Isabella, "Leave her alone." Frank said to him, only inches from Gerard's pale face.


Gerard looked like he was in a bad mood besides the fact Isabella was with Frank and not even Mikey was around. These were Gerard and Mikey's friends. Not Isabella's. And once again, Frank was too old and Isabella was too young. With Gerard, nothing ever worked.


Gerard yawned but tried to hide it by clenching his jaw shut. His eyes watered and Frank noticed he had bags under his eyes. It looked like he hadn't slept in awhile, which wasn't rare with Gerard.


Isabella stood up and touched Frank on the arm, "Just give us a moment." she said to him. Frank nodded, glared at Gerard, and then sat on the couch. Gerard grabbed Isabella by the wrist, not tightly, but not loosely either. Frank sat on the edge of his seat, getting ready to attack Gerard if neccesary.


Frank didn't care that Gerard was his best friend. He loved Isabella and he thought Gerard wasn't treating her right. Gerard didn't want him to love Isabella but there was nothing he could do about it and he didn't want to change how he felt.


Gerard took Isabella into the small, dirty bathroom that was in the basement and closed the door. Isabella didn't give him a chance to speak and began pleading for him to not get mad. "You can't be so upset. We weren't doing anything. I needed a ride because you and Mikey weren't home. I swear nothing is going on."


"Stop it." Gerard muttered and pointed a finger in her face, "I don't want you to be alone with Frank. He's too old for you and you are too young for this kind of thing. You have to understand that I'm only trying to keep you from getting hurt. If you would just understand that I'm not doing this to make you miserable then we wouldn't keep having the same confrontation over and over again."


Isabella sighed, "How do you know what's best for me, Gerard? I'm not even sure you know me." she said to him as she crossed her arms over her chest. Gerard unnoticably glanced at her chest and then made eye contact with her, "I've known you for around 12 years so I think I know you better then you think."


"You've known me for 12 years but you don't know much about me. I don't even know much about me. I don't know everything about my past and I think you are holding that against me." Isabella accused him. Gerard looked surprised and caught offguard. He had no clue how Isabella had felt about anything.


"That isn't true." Gerard argued. Isabella rolled her eyes, "You think that because I was only a small girl when I came to your famiglia that I don't remember anything." Isabella had a bad habit of putting in italian words into her english and sometimes it confused Gerard. He didn't know italian and he never tried to learn.


Gerard was afraid to say anything and Isabella went on, "I forgot a lot of things but I remember a lot as well. But I remember very clearly that you did not like me one bit. I can't remember what you had said but I know you made me cry a lot."


"Listen, Isa," he started, he called Isabella 'Isa' sometimes when he was too lazy to pronounce her name, "I was only 13 at the time. I didn't know better. You can't hold all that shit against me cause I was just a kid."


Isabella sighed, "Why are we complaining about this when this was about Frank?" Gerard was about to say something but she put a finger to his lips, "I promise you I will not date Frank right now but if I feel that I am ready for something more then friendship I will tell you and we will have a discussion about it. But for now, please do not worry. I'm not as foolish as you think." she said to him and then kissed him on the cheek.


"Sometimes I think you're too mature for your age." Gerard said and hugged her tightly. "I do care about you, though." he told Isabella who snaked her arms around Gerard. He kissed the top of her head, "Let's go back in the room and I promise I won't get mad." he said. Isabella nodded and they got out of the bathroom.


Frank was still sitting, watching as Isabella and Gerard came back in the room. He wondered what happened and if Isabella had gotten in trouble with Gerard. Isabella came over and sat next to Frank and she gave him a look that told him everything was ok.


Gerard went to go look for his microphone somewhere in the dimly light basement and Frank and Ray continued practicing. They heard a door slam upstairs and Mikey and their current drummer, Greg, came down.


"Sorry we're late, we've got some awesome news!" Greg said to them as he walked over to his drumset and sat down, "I got us a gig in NYC for next Saturday." he said.


Gerard stopped the search for his microphone, Frank and Ray stopped playing with their guitars, and Isabella went wide eyed. No one said anything, they all looked at Greg. Mikey was smirking at everyone.


"Dude, are you serious?" Ray asked. Greg nodded, "Yeah." There was silence for a few more moments and then Gerard screamed, "GREG, I FUCKING LOVE YOU!" and tackled him.


Frank and Ray both got up and began celebrating. Mikey came over and sat with Isabella who was smiling about the good news. "You get to come, you know." Mikey said to Isabella. Instantly she was on Mikey's lap and kissing him on the cheek and hugging him tightly while thank him in both italian, english, and any language she could think of.


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"We're going to New York! We're going to New York!" everyone chanted as they loaded up Frank, Mikey, and Gerard's cars up with their gear. They were almost done and eager to get to the city.


Isabella was carrying a speaker with the help of Ray when she felt the weight on her side nearly disappear. She noticed arms on her sides and she was about to turn her head when Frank rested his on her shoulder. "Thank you." she said to him. He kissed her on the cheek quickly, "It's no problem."


"Dude, look out, Gerard's coming." Ray warned them as Gerard stepped out of Ray's house carrying some things. Frank repositioned himself besides Isabella as they approached the car. As far as they knew, Gerard didn't see anything.


"Alright guys, that's everything!" Gerard yelled as the last of the equipment was put in the cars and the doors were slammed shut. "Thank god!" Ray said and leaned against Gerard's car and wiped sweat from his brow.


"Well, let's get going guys." Frank said. Isabella began to head over to Gerard's car when Frank grabbed her hand, "Why don't you ride with me?" he asked her. Isabella blushed and looked at Gerard who heading over to his car.


Mikey had got in his car and left already to get Greg who had some things to finish up at home. "Gerard won't let me ride with you." Isabella told him playfully.


Frank called over to Gerard, "Can Isabella come with me so I don't get lost?" he asked. Gerard looked at Isabella who clasped her hands together and began to silently beg. Gerard looked at Isabella, ready to say no but she really wanted to ride with Frank. What could Frank do to her? He swallowed his pride and nodded. Isabella jumped and hugged Frank.


"Thanks, Gee!" Frank said and he opened the passenger door for Isabella who eagerly jumped in. Gerard eyed them as he and Ray got in his own car. "Chill out, man. Frank ain't gonna rape her." Ray said to Gerard. Geard brushed back the long black hair that fell in his face and glared at Ray, "I know that. I just don't think Isa is old enough to be getting intimate with him or anything and he's way too old for her."


Ray rolled his eyes, "You always say that. Just get over it. You can't keep trying to control her. She's becoming a woman and you won't be able to stop her like you were able to when she was 10."


Gerard sighed and felt ready to bash his head off the steering wheel but he didn't feel like crashing the car. He looked in his rear view mirror to see Frank behind them. He couldn't focus in on them because he had to drive so he asked Ray to see what they were up to.


"I'm not doing it. You need to trust her a little more." Ray told him. Gerard stuck his tongue out at Ray, "You're so mature, you know that?" he said to Ray. Ray shrugged, "Well, maturity gets you places, you should try it."


Back in Frank's car, Isabella had turned on the radio and they were flipping through the stations. There was static on every station, Frank's antenna was half gone and picked up nothing except an oldies station and they settled on that.


"Gerard is such a bad driver." Isabella said, pointing to Gerard's car in front of them. He wasn't very good at staying centered in the lane. Frank pulled away from behind Gerard and began to pass him, Isabella flipping him off along the way.


Gerard smiled and then looked at Ray, "I'm really sure Frank's going to be a good influence on her." he said sarcastically. Ray rolled his eyes, "Dude, I'm serious. Chill out, we got other things we need to be thinking about. Like tonight's show. It's gonna fucking blow New York away!"


"Yeah, it's gonna be awesome." Gerard said, agreeing with Ray. They rode in silence for a few minutes before Gerard asked, "Can you get my pills and a bottle of water of the back?" Ray nodded and turned around and looked for Gerard's bookbag which had his pills.


Gerard had pills for his depression that not many people knew about. But what a lot of people knew was the Gerard popped pills like candy. It seemed the only people who didn't know were his parents and Isabella and he swore to himself that she could never find out.


"If you're taking this shit let me drive." Ray said to Gerard as he got the pills and water. Gerard nodded and pulled off the to the side of the road and quickly switched seats with Ray. Ray didn't waste anytime catching up to Frank's car and sighed as Gerard took 4 pills when the container clearly said for one pill to be taken twice daily.


"You told me last month you were gonna cut back on that shit." Ray told Gerard as if he were his mother. Ray respected the fact that Gerard was into drugs but he didn't like it at all. He was too afraid Gerard's addictions would destroy the band and if that happened there would be nothing left for him.


Gerard rolled his eyes at Ray and stuck his tongue out, "You are so whiney. I am cutting back. I only took 4. I usually take 6. I'm just taking them cause I'm nervous."


Ray didn't say anything else as they continued there way to the city.


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"Unleash the fucking bats!" Gerard said to his bandmates as they were about to go onstage. Isabella was watching from the bar which she was legally not supposed to be at. She kept ordering sodas as she waited for My Chemical Romance. After her third soda she saw Ray walk out first followed by everyone else.


Just as the band was starting, Isabella felt something hit her from behind and she was pushed off her seat. She heard the sound of breaking glass and turned around to see two men having a brawl, one screaming at the other in italian which Isabella understood.


People were trying to stop the fight but the italian man wouldn't stop. Soon the other man's face was bloody and his nose was recognizable anymore.


Isabella grabbed the italian's man by the arm and tried pulling him back, screaming in italian, "Leave him alone! You have already won!"


The man pulled away from Isabella and let his victim slump to the floor. Isabella soon found hands gripped around her am tightly and she was led to the exit and was thrown out the door and onto the dirty sidewalk by the club's security. The italian man vey shortly landed right next to her.


"Thanks alot, you just got me kicked out." Isabella growled and got up, dusting her clothes off a bit. "I'm sorry, they didn't know you did nothing." the man said, his accent heavy.


Isabella sighed and wondered what the hell she was going to do. "My name's Nino, what is yours?" the man, now identified as Nino, asked Isabella. (Nino pronounced Ne-no. Is italian for Tony.)


"Isabella Way." she said. Nino extended out his hand and Isabella shook it. "I used to know an Isabella a long time ago, I think she died but you look like her." Nino said, staring intently as her face. He still had her hand in his and brought her's to his lips and kissed it gently, "You are very beautiful." he said.


Isabella seemed a little disgusted and pulled her hand back quickly, "Sorry but I'm already dating someone." she told him which was a lie.


"You're italian but Way doesn't seem to suit you properly." Nino said, following Isabella as she began to walk to the parking lot across the street. She silently prayed Nino would just leave her alone.


Nino jogged lightly in front of Isabella and then walked backwards in front of her, "Did you get your name changed at all?" he asked her. Isabella sighed and nodded, "Si, my name used to be Stagno."


Almost instantly Isabella found herself laying ontop of Nino was laying on his back on the sidewalk. He had tripped on the curb because he was not looking. Nino looked at Isabella with wide eyes, "Stagno?" he repeated. Isabella nodded and quickly got off of Nino. His breath smelled like cigarettes, something that disgusted Isabella very much.


"What is it to you?" she asked him with a little bit of an attitude. Nino got up and grabbed Isabella's hand, "You don't remember be, do you?" he asked her.


Isabella was confused and she shook her head, "What are you talking about." she asked him. Nino almost exploded with excitement, "Your father, Brenno, he used to work for my father. I used to play with you when your father came to my house. He always brought you over. We were supposed to have an arranged marriage."


"What?!" Isabella nearly spat out. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. What were the odds she would run into this creep and he knew her. But he knew about her past, something she didn't and she wanted to know more, even if it was upsetting.


Isabella asked caustiously, "We're not still.... you know?" She wasn't sure if she still had to marry this guy and he shook his head, "No, no. Don't worry."


"This sounds weird, but I don't know very much about my past. I just want to know, what happened to my family?" Isabella asked him out right. She wanted to hear that her family was alive adn that maybe one day she got lost or something similar to that. She wanted to be with people like her.


Nino frowned and looked down at his italian leather boots and sighed, "Your parents and brother are all dead. They've been dead since you had gone missing. My family thought you were dead as well."


"What happened to them?" Isabella asked eagerly. She had to know the truth, she just had to. "There was this man my father owed money to. My father asked your father for money but he wouldn't give it to him. My father forged your father's will, making sure all of your father's money went to him. And then he killed your entire family."


Isabella stood in front of Nino and her hands curled into fists. "You fucking pig!" she screamed and tried to hit him but Nino was quick and grabbed her by the wrists, "Why are you blaming me? I was only a little boy at the time, it's not my fault."


Isabella pulled her arms away from Nino and she covered her face with her hands. "So my father... he was in the mafia?" she asked him, hoping he'd say no.


She didn't hear a response and uncovered her face. Nino was nodding, "Yes, he was. And he was a good man, I remember him well and he loved you very much."


Isabella studied Nino's face carefully. Nino had the same featues as Isabella. Brown hair and eyes, olive skin. He was skinny and his cheek bones stuck out a bit. His hair was gelled to perfection. He was tall but hunched a little.


There were vague memories stirring in Isabella's mind and she remembered a boy of about 11, holding a spider up to her face, making her cry and run away. She matched the young boy's face with Nino's.


"Nino." she said and looked at him. He looked at her oddly, wondering why she just said his name. "Yes?" he said. Isabella nearly tackled him, "I do remember you!" she nearly screamed. She felt Nino's arms go around her.


Isabella made a mental note that even though Nino's breath was nasty, he smelt good. "I can't believe this. What are the odds of something like?" she asked Nino. He shrugged, "I don't know but it's amazing."


For a moment, Isabella forgot that her childhood playmate's father murdred her family but then when it came back to mind she tried to keep her distance. "Your father, he'll kill me, won't he?" she asked him, almost accusing him.


Nino bit his lip, "It's best if we went our seperate ways." he said. Isabella got a clear answer from that. She realized being around Nino was not going to be safe.


"I need to go." Isabella said and ran back across the street and got back int he club, luckily with no trouble from the guards, just in time to see My Chemical Romance walk off the stage.


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"Gerard, can I talk to you?" Isabella asked Gerard as the band came out of the backstage area. Isabella looked a little shaken up and Gerard wondered what was wrong. He had seen her sitting at the bar at the beginning of thier set but she disappeared after that.


Gerard nodded and Isabella took him by the hand and led him led him to the back of the club where there was a hallway leading to the bathrooms. It was just a little bit quieter there since another was on the stage playing.


"What's up?" Gerard asked Isabella, nearly screaming at her. Isabella gulped and looked at Gerard straight in the eyes, "I ran into someone." she said to him. Gerard nodded, motioning her to continue.


"He told me about my family." Isabella told Gerard. Gerard's eyes went wide, this was't what he was expecting. "Are you sure?" he asked Isabella and she nodded. Gerard didn't know what to say. He took a deep breath, "Now's not the time to talk about this. When we get home we'll talk, okay?" Gerard said. Isabella nodded again and looked down. Gerard pulled her into a hug and said, "Don't worry, it'll be fine." in her ear.


Gerard led Isabella to the bar where Frank, Ray, Mikey, and Greg were having drinks. Mikey and Ray got Frank and Greg drinks since Frank and Greg weren't old enough to drink and this was illegal but no one cared.


Isabella walked over to them and stood between the stools Mikey and Frank were sitting on. Mikey leaned over and pressed his lips to her cheek and gave her an innocent kiss, "Did you like the show?" he said to her. Isabella nodded and looked over to Frank.


Frank had his back to her but Isabella was sure that he knew she was standing there. She watched as Frank took 3 shots of tequila. She watched as his eyes watered a bit and he nearly gasped for air. He tried to act like he was used to it, like he did this all the time but Isabella knew he didn't drink very often.


"Good show, Frank." Isabella said, leaning on his back and resting her head on his shoulder. He pushed back against and pushed her off of him and spun around to face her, "You weren't even watching." he growled to her.


Isabella smelt the alcohol on his breath and nearly gagged at the smell. It seemed everyone had bad breath today. Isabella didn't say anything. She just looked at him striaght in the eyes until he got up and pushed her out of his way and went towards the bathrooms.


"What the fuck is his problem?" Isabella asked Mikey. Mikey tried to avoid Isabella's eyes and looked down at his lap, "He kinda dedicated a song to you but he didn't see you anywhere. I think it kinda hurt him." he informed her.


"Ah, fuck!" Isabella said and fought the urge to hit her head off the bar. Mikey patted Frank's empty stool and told her to sit down.


Mikey waved the bartender over and ordered a virgin bloody mary for Isabella. "Where were you anyways?" Mikey asked Isabella after he ordered her a drink. She told him the story about how she got kicked out and then she told him about Nino and the information he had given her.


"Are you okay?" Mikey asked Isabella after she told him what happened. Her drink had already came and she took a sip from it. She noticed that it had alcohol in it even though Mikey ordered it without alcohol. She didn't mind though. She wanted to get drunk, she had a rough night.


"Oh, shit!" Mikey said, looking past Isabella and out into the small crowd. He saw something he hoped Isabella wouldn't see but she turned around and saw it as well. Frank was surrounded by a crowd of girls, one of them with their arms wrapped around Frank's waist and his arms were around her. It was only a few minutes before both Isabella and Mikey saw Frank's hand go in places they shouldn't have been.


Isabella said nothing and got up, "Mikey, I want to go home." she said to him. Mikey didn't know what to say. They still had to pack up and everyone was drunk. Mikey sighed and looked around. The only person closest to sober was Ray.


"Let me and Ray pack up my car and we'll go home, ok?" Mikey told her. Isabella nodded and Mikey and Ray disappeared in the crowd.


Isabella was sad. She liked Frank so much and he liked her. It was an accident that she had gotten kicked out before. He didn't even know what happened. Why did he have to be so mad? So many questions were running through Isabella's mind and she kept ordering herself more and more drinks, grateful the bartender wasn't asking for an ID.


"Isabella, there you are." Gerard said, coming over to her. More like stumbling over to her. He had taken more pills and was drunk as well. "It's fucking cold in here." Gerard said and wrapped his arms around Isabella, "Keep me warm Belly." he told her. Belly was another nickname that he used only when he wasn't sober.


Isabella was very drunk at this point and pulled Gerard closer to her. "Frank hates me." she slurred. Gerard looked at her and pouted, "It's ok, I don't hate you." he said and kissed her on the lips. He had intended to make it a quick little peck on the lips but it turned into something more.


Isabella clumsily held Gerard's face in her hands as there tongues battled for space in each other's mouths. Isabella was the one to pull away but only to take a quick breath and soon enough her lips were back on Gerard's.


Gerard put his hands on Isabella's waist and picked her off the stool and almost fell back on the grounded. Isabella was standing now and she tried to keep her balance but she tried to stay as close to Gerard as possible. She fell foward against his chest and she lifted her head and continued to kiss him.


"Gerard!" Mikey screamed as he found Isabella and Gerard. He was almost disgusted by this. He almost thought it was incest but since there was no blood relation he couldn't call it that. "What the fuck, man?" Ray said, he too was disgusted.


Mikey had pulled Isabella away from Gerard and she almost fell to the ground but Mikey's arm around her waist saved her. Gerard stumbled forward and nearly collapsed at Mikey and Isabella's feet but he caught himself on Mikey's shirt.


"Shit happens." Gerard muttered and pushed himself off Mikey and stumbled back to the bar to order himself another drink. Isabella now leaned on Mikey and suddenly began to press kisses to his jaw and chin. Mikey was frozen. He didn't know how to react. He was shocked. She was drunk.


Mikey shoved her down as soon as her lips found his. He almost cried out when he saw Isabella laying on the floor with her eyes closed. Mikey prayed silently he didn't just kill Isabella but he saw her eyes re open and he sighed with relief, bent down, and picked her up.


"We're going home." Mikey said to Isabella. She didn't respond, she just leaned on him. Mikey was going to tell Ray he was leaving but Ray was trying to convince Gerard he didn't need another drink.


Mikey lifted up Isabella in his arms and began to carry her to the exit. Trying to hurry up because he wasn't strong. Isabella wasn't heavy but at the moment she was almost dead weight.


When Mikey had gotten outside, his muscles ached from the weight of Isabella and dropped her. But Isabella didn't fall to the ground. Instead she was in the arms of someone else. "Let me help you with her." the man said, it was Nino.


"Nino!" Isabella yelled drunkinly. Mikey looked at Nino, ready to punch him but Nino was bigger, stronger, and dangerous. He had a fucking mafia family backing him up and they killed Isabella's family and he didn't like Nino because of that.


Nino brought Isabella to Mikey's car. Mikey opened up the door and Nino placed her in the seat and put the seat belt on her. Isabella had fallen asleep now and was breathing calmly.


"Thanks, dude." Mikey said, holding his hand out to Nino. Nino shook it, "It was no probelm at all." he said to Mikey and then began to walk away.


"She's not in danger, is she?" Mikey asked to Nino. Nino turned around, "Excuse me?" he asked Mikey. "She told me your family killed hers. Now that you know she's alive, is she in any danger?" Mikey asked.


Nino shook his head, "I won't tell anyone I saw her and she will be safe. I promise you that I'd give up my life to keep her alive." he said and turned around and began to walk away again. Mikey didn't say anything else and he closed Isabella's door and then went around the car and got in the driver's seat.


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Isabella woke up the next morning with a headache. It was actually the afternoon but it felt like morning to Isabella. She opened her eyes and muttered curses in italian to herself. She looked around and noticed she was in the basement, not her room.


There was an arm drapped over Isabella's waist and it took her a few moments to realize it. She followed the arm to a shoulder and then a head. It was Gerard. Isabella didn't know why she was in bed with Gerard. She hadn't slept in his bed since she was almost 11.


Isabella tried to remember what had happened last night but nothing came to mind except her little episode with Nino. Maybe she was lucky she didn't remember the fact she had her tongue down Gerard's throat last night or that Frank was mad at her for something that wasn't really her fault. Isabella didn't even remember how she came across Nino.


"Isa?" she heard her name. Gerard had woken up and he smiled at Isabella softly. "Hey." he said to her and pulled his arm off her. Isabella looked at him and asked, "What happened last night?"


Gerard didn't want to tell Isabella what had happened. He was surprised he remembered anything. He had taken so many pills it was a miracle he wasn't dead or even in the hospital. But Gerard remembered kissing Isabella. He shouldn't have done it but he was so wasted that he couldn't control his actions. But there was something else that happened and he didn't even want to think about it let alone tell Isabella.


"You drank a lot last night. You had fun, though." Gerard told Isabella. She smiled weakly, "But what happened? I mean, I know something big happened. I just can't remember."


Gerard wondered if it was the kiss, because it wasn't really THAT big of a deal. Maybe it was that other thing that happened. He took a deep breath and lifted his head from his pillow and sat up. Isabella sat up as well and Gerard took her hand in his.


"Last night..." he started and was interrupted by the basement door slamming and Mikey came running down with Frank and Ray in tow. They all looked upset. Frank looked ill, probably suffering from a hangover. Mikey and Ray seemed to be ok but something had happened. It was obvious by their expressions.


Gerard looked at the trio that had just come in and asked, "What the fuck? Was there a practice or something?" he asked them.


"Greg quit the band." Mikey said. Gerard instantly got out of bed, throwing the covers off both him and Isabella. Isabella looked down and realized she was in nothing but a tank top and underwear. She tried to cover herself up and swore she saw Frank checking her out. Gerard saw it to and he pushed Frank back and gave him a warning.


Isabella grabbed the blanket Gerard threw to the ground and pulled it over her. She wondered why Gerard would get in the same bed with her when she was dressed in almost nothing. But she didn't even know how she ended up there. She looked at Gerard though and he was in nothing but boxers. He wasn't wearing a t-shirt or anything and that was weird because he was self-consious about his body. He always had a t-shirt, at the very least.


Isabella was almost scared now. Something serious happened and she didn't know what. Gerard was going to tell her but Mikey, Frank, and Ray had stopped him. She had to know and she waited silently as Gerard talked to his brother and bandmates.


After nearly a half hour, Isabella was getting fed up. She wrapped the blanket around her entirely and walked past everyone. Luckily, she didn't see Frank give her an evil glare as she went by. She ran up the steps and went upstairs to her room as fast as she could but she wasn't fast enough.


"Isabella?" she heard her name being called. It was Mrs. Way. She had come out of the kitchen and saw Isabella. She gave her a questioning look. Isabella racked her brain for a good lie and blurted out that Gerard had played a prank on her and stole her clothes, leaving her in her undergarments.


"I'm going to need to talk to that boy. And the boys just went downstairs. Please don't tell me..." she started and Isabella shook her head, "No, it's ok. It was nothing." she said. She gave Mrs. Way a quick kiss on the cheek, trying to keep the blanket up and then ran upstairs and went straight to her room.


There was something bothering Isabella. It was a feeling in between her legs and it hurt her when she moved around. She decided to just take a shower, thinking it was nothing. When she got in the bathroom and pulled down her underwear she gasped and fell back.


Isabella had blood and a white patch on it. She knew it was cum and then she realized she had sex. With Gerard.


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"I think something's wrong with Isa." Mikey said to Gerard a few days after the show. Mikey didn't know that Gerard and Isabella had slept together. Heck, Gerard thought Isabella didn't know. But Isabella had figured it out. It wasn't just the stains on her underwear. It was the teeth marks and hickies on her neck and shoulder that made it clear to her. She knew it was Gerard's handywork because all of Gerard's past girlfriend's had similar marks.


Then Isabella wondered why Gerard whould do it? He had taken advantage of her while she was drunk. Was it rape? She didn't know. Maybe she wanted it at the time. It made her sick to think about it because it was Gerard. He wasn't her blood brother but he still had the label of brother and that made her stomach churn.


From what Isabella found out about that night was that Mikey had taken her home and let her sleep in Gerard's bed. Mikey had went upstairs to stay on the couch to wait for Gerard but when Gerard came home, Mikey had fallen asleep. Gerard must have gotten past Mikey without waking him up and then went downstairs and...


Why wouldn't Gerard just fess up? he told Isabella about thier kiss and he told her about Frank. He didn't say anything about the sex and Isabella felt she couldn't trust Gerard anymore. She didn't go to band practice because Frank was mad at her and she couldn't stand being that close to Gerard. She didn't go in the basmenet, even when Gerard wasn't home.


Gerard didn't say anything to Mikey and it was then that Mikey realized something was up with Gerard. He stared at his older brother almost begging for an answer with his eyes. Gerard cracked, he couldn't stand it when Mikey would stare at him like that.


"I fucked Isabella!" Gerard yelled and then clapped his hand over his mouth. He couldn't believe he confessed. Mikey was shocked and he took a step away from Gerard. "How could you?" Mikey asked Gerard. Mikey was disgusted. He didn't like the thought of Isabella with Gerard at all and sat down on his bed. He felt sick, almost about to throw up.


Gerard pulled his chair from his desk and sat down. "I don't know why. We were drunk. It was an accident." Gerard said to Mikey. Mikey noticed Gerard had tears in his eyes. Mikey had never seen Gerard cry since they were little. After he turned 13, he said only little kids cry and Mikey vowed never to cry again. At least not in front of Gerard.


"Is that why she's won't do anything with us anymore?" Mikey asked Gerard. Gerard nodded and rubbed his eyes, keeping the tears from running down his face. He probably didn't want to cry in front of Mikey.


This was awkward for both Mikey and Gerard. "We have to talk to her." Mikey said to his brother. Gerard nodded, "I know."


Gerard got up and so did Mikey. Gerard began to walk to the stairs but Mikey stopped him and pulled his older, but shorter brother into a hug. "We'll talk to her together, ok?" Mikey said to Gerard. Gerard nodded, it made him feel better that he wasn't going to have to deal with it on his own.


"Does Frank know?" Mikey asked Gerard as they both went to lay down in Mikey's bed. They pulled the blanket over themselves and hugged each other like they used to when they were little and Mikey would have a nightmare and Gerard would hold him until he fell asleep. But this time it was different. They were older and the problem was Gerard's and it was worse then a nightmare.


Gerard said that only he knew. He didn't know Isabella knew anything but it was obvious she did. "Was it rape?" Mikey asked. Gerard shok his head, "No, she was drunk but she said she wanted it. We both didn't know what we were doing."


Mikey pulled Gerard closer to him, "It's going to be ok. We'll settle this in the morning."


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"Why couldn't you just tell me?" Isabella managed to choke out. Gerard and Mikey sat with her at the kitchen table, to tell her everything, causing her to cry. Gerard felt like shit and would have given anything to just die right there but he really wasn't the one with the problem.

It was lucky for the three of them that Mr. and Mrs. Way had gone out that night so they were able to talk out in the open. Gerard didn't want to say anything but Mikey kept kicking him under the table to keep him from saying nothing at all.

Gerard sighed, "I was going to tell you. I was going to tell you that morning when we both had woken up. Then the guys came down and you left before they did and I had no chance. You've been avoiding me."

Isabella raised her voice, "I know, it's killing me to be this close to you, Gerard. It makes me sick being in the same house as you and to have the same last name as you. You make me sick."

Gerard had been holding back tears for awhile now and the fact that Isabella was so mad at him almost broke his heart. Isabella continued to yell at Gerard, her voice getting louder and hoarser as she went on. She blamed him for things that he never realized had bothered her until then. When he was finally sick of the Gerard bashing he got up quickly, resisting the urge to just flip the table over, "Would you just stop!" he screamed, the tears fell from his eyes and his cheeks went red as he lost his temper.

"I know what I did was wrong. I know it already and it's been eating at me. I can't sleep and I can't eat. You know just as well that what happened was not just my fault. It was your fault, too. We were both drunk and we both wanted what happened. You didn't tell me to stop. You told me to keep going. Just because you don't remember anything doesn't mean you can blame all of this shit on me." He yelled.

Mikey stood up and tried to get Gerard to sit down again. Isabella stood up, too. She was biting her lip and still crying. She didn't look angry, she looked sympathetic.

"I'm sorry, Gerard." she said. She took a step towards Gerard and she wiped her tears away, "You're right. It was both of our fault. I was just scared. I love you, Gerard, you're like my brother. I can't hate you." she said and almost pounced on Gerard to give him a hug.

Gerard didn't care that he was crying. He wasn't ashamed this time and he held Isabella close to him and kissed the top of her head, "I'm sorry for everything. I'll be more of a brother if you want. I swear I will."

Mikey watched Gerard hug Isabella. He never really considered Isabella a sister. Neither had Gerard and Isabella didn't consider them brothers. It was because they all knew Isabella was adopted and they almost forced her to remember it. If Mikey introduced Gerard and Isabella to someone he would say, "This is my brother, Gerard, and this is my friend Isabella." Only his close friends knew Isabella was their adopted sister.

Mikey looked at the clock in the kitchen. They had ten minutes to be at band practice and even though Mikey didn't want to end this touching moment he had to. "Um, Gerard. We need to get to practice." Mikey said nervously. He didn't want to seem like he was cold hearted or something.

"Head to the car, I'll meet you in a minute." Gerard said. Gerard was still hugging Isabella who was shaking uncontrollably in his arms. She couldn't stop crying. She didn't want to. If that meant Gerard was going to keep holding her and keeping her safe, then she didn't want to stop.

Gerard was the one to pull away, "Do you want to come with us?" he asked. Isabella nodded, "If you don't care." she said. Gerard reached out and wiped the tears from Isabella's face. He was a little surprised she had tears left, his shirt was soaked with her tears.

Gerard smiled though, "It's ok. I want you there." he said. Isabella smiled back and blushed. Gerard was smiling. He rarely smiled. He rarely showed much emotion besides anger. Gerard was angry a lot. That was the one thing Isabella remembered most about Gerard from when she was younger.

"Gerard?" Isabella said his name almost like she was a little kid again. He smiled again and both Isabella and Gerard couldn't believe it but she put her hand on the back of Gerard's neck and pulled him down and pressed her lips against his.

Isabella didn't care that this was wrong. She didn't care that people would think this was sick. She loved Gerard. Maybe a little more then she should but it wasn't like this was really incest. Heck, she wasn't even related to him.

"Man, Gee, are you..." Mikey came in, about to get Gerard to hurry up but what he saw made him forget what he was saying and he stutted uncontrollably.

Gerard and Isabella pulled away from each other and looked at Mikey and blushed. Mikey just couldn't believe it. THEY WEREN'T EVEN DRUNK, he thought.

"It's not what it looks like." Gerard said before Mikey could find some words to say. This was wrong. He was shocked about it when he saw them at the club but they were wasted and had no clue what they were doing. But now... they were sober and well aware who they were kissing.

Mikey wanted to laugh but just couldn't. Instead, he said, "Let's just go. PLEASE." and left the room as fast as possible. Gerard looked at Isabella and they both blushed. "Sorry." Isabella said and tried to hide her face behind her hair. Gerard reached out and brushed it away from her face, "Don't be. I wanted it as much as you."

"We're so sick." Isabella told Gerard guiltly, making Gerard laugh. "If you were my sister, blood sister, then I'd say we're sick. But we're more like best friends going up a notch. If it's ok with you."

Isabella smiled, "Ok, and I don't care what anyone else thinks." she said to him. Gerard nodded, "Me neither, but let's go cause we're late." Gerard said and took Isabella's hand and led her out of the house. Mikey was back in the car.

On the way to Ray's house Mikey felt nervous. He didn't know what to say but there was nothing to say. Gerard was in the back with Isabella and they cuddled together. They occasionally kissed, making Mikey feel more uncomfortable every moment.

"Do you guys feel at all like this is wrong?" Mikey finally asked. Isabella shook her head, "No, Mikey. It's right." she informed him. Gerard smiled and said nothing but he placed his lips to Isabella's gently. Mikey sighed. He thought about it for a few moments. It wasn't that wrong. There was no blood relation at all. Didn't they just establish that she was a sister to them? It was so confusing.

It took all of a few moments for Mikey to decide to be okay with it. Gerard looked happy. He was rarely happy with any girls he was dating and Mikey wondered if he was going to dump his current girlfriend whose name he couldn't remember but didn't care to remember.

"Don't tell anyone, Mikey." Gerard said to his little brother. Mikey pulled into Ray's driveway and turned to look at Gerard. He really didn't like this at all. It wasn't right, it couldn't be right but somehow it did seem right. The only word that coud describe this all was confusing.

Both Gerard and Isabella were looking at Mikey, ready to here what he had to say. Mikey caved in and sighed, "I won't tell anyone. Just don't like... let me get used to this before you guys start doing shit. Okay?" he said. He wanted to lay down the guidelines if they were going to have this relationship.

A relationship. It didn't seem real. It was surreal. It just didn't seem like something this insane could happen to any of them. But of course Isabella and Gerard were ok with this odd turn of events but they wanted Mikey to be okay with it.

"Mikey, if you have a problem with this... please say something now. " Isabella said to Mikey, touching him on the shoulder lightly. He shook his head and said softly, "No, it's ok."

Gerard couldn't tell if Mikey really was ok with it. It was like the whole brother vibe was drying out and they couldn't read each other's minds like they used to. "Come on, guys. We're already late." Gerard said, getting out of the car and helping Isabella out.

The three of them headed toward the door, Mikey walked a few feet ahead of the couple. He could hear the sound of kissing and he tried to think of something else. Ducks. Quack quack! He thought. It was no use. It seemed like forever but he reached the front door and went straight inside.

Gerard stepped away from Isabella, they bothed smiled knowingly as they stepped in the house. Gerard put his hand on Isabella's back as if to guide which wasn't necessary at all.

"It's about fucking time!" Ray called out as Mikey, Gerard, and Isabella went down to the basement. Gerard wondered what the point of practice was if they had no drummer. They had a drumset, no drummer, meaing no band.

Gerard rolled his eyes, "Dude, who cares? We're drummer-less, remember?" he said. Ray sighed, Gerard was right and he slumped back down on the couch. Mikey sat on the floor in front of the couch and Gerard joined him.

"Hey, Isa!" Ray said cheerfully. Isabella waved but said nothing. Frank wouldn't even look at her but she didn't care. She walked across the room and sat behind the drumset and picked up the sticks laying on the ground.

Gerard and Frank watched Isabella while Ray and Mikey talked about getting a new drummer. They were curious. Isabella was just bored. She started hitting pedals, making noise and then stopping for a moment, slightly embarressed. She looked to see Frank and Gerard staring at her.

"What?" she asked, blushing terribly. Frank was about to say something but Gerard spoke first, "What are you doing?" he asked. Isabella shrugged, "I don't know. I just wanted to mess around a bit." she said, "Is it ok?" she asked, she didn't want to be a bother.

"Go ahead." Frank said. Isabella looked at Frank and gave him a weak smile. She looked back at the drums and she hit each drum and cymbal, noticing the difference of sound between them all. By now all four men were watching Isabella. She was in her own little world that she didn't noticed everyonw was watching her every move.

Isabella started hitting the drums, coming up with a decent beat. Gerard looked at Mikey for a moment. He was a little surprised. It almost looked like Isabella knew what she was doing. She continued for almost a half hour. She stopped when she accidently dropped a stick and she looked at the guys and blushed.

"Stop staring at me!" she said and covered her bright red face. Mikey looked at Ray, "I think we found our drummer."

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"I can't be a drummer. I don't know shit about drumming." Isabella argued with Mikey. It had been decided a few days ago at that band practice that Isabella could play drums. She just needed to learn a few things. Mikey convinced Greg to come back for a month to teach Isabella all the songs. She didn't know that they had to pay Greg to teach her.

Isabella whined for almost an hour but it was no use. She had to be at Ray's house in 2 hours for her lesson with Greg. She was excited about it but she was scared. Her fear was strong and it kept her from wanting this as much as Mikey and the band did. She was afraid of failure and letting down eveyone.

"Babe, I love you, but can you two shut the fuck up!" Gerard groaned. He was taking a nap on the couch but Mikey and Isabella woke him up with their bickering.

Isabella rolled her eyes at Gerard and then plopped down on his lap, causing him to gasp out in surprise. "My nuts, my nuts!" he moaned and tried to get Isabella off his family jewels. Isabella laughed, "Sorry, Gee." she said and kissed him quickly on the lips. Mikey shuddered and turned around.

Mikey was beginning to be ok with Gerard and Isabella. He didn't mind it because there was something he found out about Isabella. She wasn't actually adopted. He didn't know how but all these years his parents had been able to pass Isabella off as their own, without all the neccesary paper work or anything. It was a miracle no one ever asked questions.

"Oops, sorry, Mikey." Isabella said. She was sorry but there were times now that she just couldn't keep her hands off Gerard. She had to admit, having a sex life was a great thing. She enjoyed being with Gerard more then anyone would ever think. It was like heaven but there's always trouble in paradise. Gerard loved Isabella and she loved him. But he also loved Mia, the girlfriend that seemed to be forgotten by everyone.

Gerard sat got up lazily and grabbed Isabella by the hand, "You're the one who should be sorry. Now you're going to pay." he growled and began to lead her to the basement. Mikey knew this meant he couldn't go down there for at least an hour maybe more. He just hoped Isabella would be 'ready' for her drum lesson.

"Fuck, Gee!" Mikey heard Isabella moaned. They had left the basement door open and Mikey could hear every little sound. He got up and walked over to the basement door and was about to close it but curiousity got the best of him and he went down a few steps to catch a glimpse of Gerard and Isabella.

Mikey's jaw dropped when he saw the pair. They were in his bed! He watched though, oddly it was... arousing. He felt his cock stirring in his tight jeans and he rubbed himself through the rough fabric. He watched in awe as Gerard made love to Isabella. The gentle yet forceful ways he gave her pleasure and no pain. The long, deep, passionate kisses. The moaning and attempt to get closer then they were; skin against skin. Mikey continued to rub himself and accidently let out a moan when his orgasm hit him but it was lost when Gerard started yelling out curses as he pulled out of Isabella and cummed all over the sheets.

"Fuck." Mikey muttered and went up the stairs as quietly as possible and almost ran to the bathroom. He fell over a towel on the floor and dragged himself to the toilet and threw up everything in his stomach.
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Isabella had been taking her drum lessons very seriously. She had been going for almost 2 weeks now and she was doing very well. Everyone was impressed. Isabella would stay at Ray's house for hours practicing after Greg left so she spent a lot of time alone. Ray was hardly there when she was but sometimes Mikey or Gerard was with her but not often.

Today was different. Gerard was at Mia's but he told everyone he was at the mall with an old friend and Mikey was out with Ray. Frank was at Ray's house with Greg and Isabella. He was supposed to work with Isabella after Greg was done with her so she could practice playing with something other then a recording.

"That's about all for today. Good job, Isa." Greg said to Isabella, messing her hair up and getting his things. Frank was laying on the couch staring at the ceiling. "Cya, Frank." Greg said, leaving the basement. Frank said goodbye and then sat up and looked at Isabella.

It was the first time Isabella and Frank had been alone together in a long time. Frank liked her still but he wouldn't let her know. Supposedly she was dating some older guy, he didn't know who it was and neither did Mikey or Gerard. Or so they told him.

"You ready to start?" Frank asked Isabella. She was about to say something but yawned loudly. She shook her head for a second, "Whoa, I'm tired." she said, stretching for a moment. Frank noticed she had rings around her eyes, her hair was greasy, unwashed and untamed, and her clothes were all wrinkled as if she had slept in them for many nights in a row.

"Are you ok? You look like shit." Frank said, almost smacking himself in the face. He didn't mean to say she looked like shit. He still thought she was beautiful but she looked too exhausted. But Isabella nodded, "I'm fine. Now let's get to work." she said to him.

Frank got up and grabbed his guitar and pulled a chair in front of the drumset, "Now, I'm gonna start playing 'Our Lady of Sorrows' and I want you to play along to the recording and then you need to play along to just me playing. Think you can handle it?"

Isabella nodded. She was nervous. She had only played along with the recordings. Frank got up and pressed play on the stereo and started playing the song, turning the volume up louder. Isabella wasted no time and she played along almost perfectly. Frank was surprised and pleased with Isabella's skill.

"Wow, great job. That was perfect." Frank said at the end of the song. He clapped lightly for her and she blushed a little, "Thanks." she said. Frank smiled at her and took a seat in front of the drumset again. He picked up his guitar and rested it on his lap, "Now, let's try it with just me on guitar." he said.

Isabella nodded and go ready. Frank switched his amp on quickly and started playing. Isabella hands shook nervously but she played ok. Frank was singing the words to keep count in his head but half way through the song Isabella faultered and the both stopped.

Frank looked at Isabella who had dropped her drumsticks was holding her head in her hands. He got up quickly and almost dropped his guitar to the floor. He set it on the couch and went over to Isabella, 'What's wrong?" he asked.

Isabella mumbled that she had a head ache and Frank rubbed her back gently, "Are you ok? Do you want me to take you home?" he asked her. She shook her head, determined to become perfect at this because Gerard, Mikey, Ray, and Frank were all depending on her for this. She needed to work as much as possible.

"Listen, Isa, if you need a break, it's ok." Frank comforted her as she bent down and grabbed her sticks. Frank looked into her eyes and swore he saw a tear but she wiped it away. Isabella almost pushed him away, "I'm fine, Frank. I swear. Just start playing again." she said to him.

Frank got his guitar again and started playing the song again. This time Isabella played it with perfection. Frank was excited. She was their savouir. She was saving the band. She was perfect. He ran behind the drums and tackled Isabella off her stool and to the ground.

"You are fucking amazing!" he yelled and kissed her on the cheek. His arms were around her waist, it felt to her, almost like Gerard. Frank's touch was almost the same.

Isabella looked right into Frank's eyes. She felt herself crashing down. She remembered a few short weeks ago when she looked into the same eyes and felt weak in the knees. She remembered how this could have been her boyfriend if Gerard hadn't been in the way. She had remembered almost being in love with him.

Where was Gerard when she needed him? She was so confused. If Gerard there at that moment she wouldn't have let Frank press his lips against hers and parted them with his tongue. She wouldn't have taken a grip on his hair as he entered with more force then Gerard ever used but bringing her more pleasure then Gerard. She couldn't stop thinking about Gerard. She kept comparing Gerard to Frank. She was so out of it for a few minutes until Frank asked her to look at him in the eyes as he went on.

"Oh god, Frank!" Isabella moaned, gripping Frank's t-shirt. They were naked at their lower halfs. It wasn't that they were making love like it seemed to be with Isabella and Gerard. It was lust and pented up emotions finally breaking free.

Frank bit Isabella's neck as he thrust into Isabella's small frame. He moaned loudly, biting deeper and drawing blood as he came inside Isabella. Almost instantly Isabella's orgasm washed over her and she moaned uncontrollably. Frank kissed her so she wouldn't make too much more noise.

Isabella looked up into Frank's eyes as soon as he pulled back. He smiled down at Isabella and made a move to get up but Isabella put her hand behind his head and brought his head down so she could kiss him.

There was a liquid running down Isabella's neck and soaked into her shirt. She touched it and looked at her fingers. There was blood. Frank had left his mark and if Gerard saw it, he'd now it wasn't his own mark. Gerard never bit that hard.

Isabella didn't want to think about Gerard. She was enjoying her moments with Frank. They both got up and put their pants back on with the occasional kiss.

"You know, I'm sorry about that night at the club and how I've been a dick." Frank said to Isabella as he got his guitar and put it on the guitar stand. Isabella set her sticks on the snare drum, "It's ok. I forgive you."

"Come on, I'll take you home." Frank said, holding his arm out. Isabella walked to him and his arm draped across her shoulders, "I love you." Frank said to Isabella and kissed her on the cheek gently. Isabella touched her cheek and looked at Frank, "I love you, too."

Fuck, she thought. Why did she just say that? She was so stupid. She loved Gerard as well and now it hit her almost on the head. She cheated on Gerard.

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When Frank was turning into Isabella's street, they were blocked. There was a firetruck and police cars in the way. Isabella and Frank could see the dark smoke billowing from a bit down the road.

"Oh my god!" Isabella cried out. She couldn't tell if it was her house and she was getting out of the car. Frank yelled out to her to come back but she started running down the street toward the flaming house.

Frank cursed to himself and got out of the car and went sprinting after Isabella. He caught up with her when she was in plain few of the burning house. It was her house.

"Isabella..." he said her name, not knowing what to say. He put his hands on her shoulder and tried to comfort her. A few moments later a man came over, saying he was the fire marshall.

"Do you live here?" The man asked. Isabella nodded with tears in her eyes. She hoped everyone made it out ok. The marshall looked down at his feet for a moment and rubbed the back of his neck, "I don't know how to explain this to you but two people didn't make it out."

Isabella said nothing and found herself kneeling on the front lawn of a neighbor's house, throwing up the little bit of food she had eaten that day. Frank held her hair back and rubbed her back. He felt heartbroken. It wasn't Gerard or Mikey, they weren't home. It was their parents.

"It's gonna be ok, Isa. It's going to be ok." Frank said, trying more to convince himself. He couldn't believe it, it could have been Isabella in there if she wasn't with him. It had to be a sign, he saved her.

Isabella was in Frank's arms now and she was wimpering feebly, she had little strength and was exhausted. She wanted to scream out but she didn't have the voice so she had taken to muttering words against Frank's chest as they sat in the grass.

It was warm where they were. It was middle of August and the fire was roaring near them. It was like being trapped in an oven. Isabella didn't care though. The only parents she had ever known were dead. Her real parents were dead, too. Everyone died.

Isabella began to mutter in italian about how she hated everyone. She almost wanted to push Frank away. She didn't want to see him die either. She wanted to run away from Mikey and Gerard, from the whole band, from this place and start over somewhere else.

It got worse for Isabella. A fire marshall told her that there were witnesses claiming two men had started the fire. They were driving a black car, the model unknown but it looked expensive. They were in suits, hair slicked back.

All Isabella could think of was Nino, then. She couldn't explain why she connected them together but all she thought of was Nino.

"Isabella!" she heard her name being called. She lifted her head from Frank's chest to see Mikey coming running over to her with Ray behind him. Isabella got up and Mikey embraced her tightly, "Are you ok? Is Gerard ok? Is mom and dad out?" he asked.

Isabella started to sob loudly, "Mom and dad didn't get out." she said to him and cried in his arms. They had been murdered but she didn't say anything. She couldn't say anything. Her vocals cords seemed to have been tied in a know. She could only wail and cry.

Mikey wanted to get ahold of Gerard but he didn't know where he was. Gerard didn't have a cell phone so he couldn't call him. He didn't know who Gerard was with. He had been very secretive about where he was going and who was with. he said he's probably head to the mall with an old friend. When Mikey asked who, Gerard snapped at him and said it was nobody he knew.

Isabella's strength was almost non-existant and she found herself collapsing against Mikey. He had to hold her up and then was worried. What were they to do? He lost his parents. He lost his house. All of things, gone. And poor Gerard. All of his artwork was gone. All of the songs he had written, burnt to ashes.

Mikey looked to Ray and Frank. "Take her to your house. Put her to bed. I need to stay here." Mikey said, lifting up Isabella who moaned pathetically and put her in the arm's of Ray.

"I'll take care of her." Ray said to Mikey and began to carry her torward his car. Frank ran over to Ray for a moment and told him to wait. Isabella was looking at him, her eyes were almost glazed over. She was ready to sleep, something she hadn't done in several nights. Now she knew how Gerard must feel when he does the same thing.

Frank brushed they hair out of Isabella's face and placed a gentle kiss to her lips and said, "I'm going to stay with Mikey and help him out. Get some rest and I'll come to see you in a little while."

Isabella nodded slightly, barely moving her head. Frank carressed her cheek lightly before letting Ray carry her to his car. Frank sighed. He wished he had never wanted to bring her back to the house. He should have kept working with her, spent more time away from here.

Frank went back to Mikey. Mikey looked at Frank nervously. Frank didn't know Isabella was with Gerard. Only he knew about his brother and Isabella. But that was the least of their worries.
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Gerard was at Mia's house, laying on her bed, naked. She was in the shower and he was watching tv. He wanted to keep his mind fom thinking about what he did. He hadn't talked to Mia in two weeks, he wanted to break up with her for Isabella. He wanted to tell Mia it was over and that was his intentions for seeing Mia but instead he ended up fucking her. That's all it was. A fuck. There was nothing special about it like it was when he was with Isabella. He felt like Mia was a total stranger to him.

Gerard settled on a new's station. They were talking about sports, something he could care less about. Then they went back to local news. "A house on Terrence Lane went up in flames today. Investigators have reported that the fire was intentional. Witnesses have given descriptions of two men who have started the blaze, we'll have that in a little while. There were two deaths in the fire. And a miracle for medicine..."

Gerard's eyes went wide when he saw the picture of the remains of the house. It couldn't be his. He didn't know but he had to. He didn't care about Mia finding him gone. He got dressed and almost went running out of Mia's apartment.

The speed limit was 25, Gerard was going 50. He just needed to find out. It wasn't his house, he kept telling himself. No one he loved died. When he pulled into his road and got out of the car, he started to scream. It was his house. And people he loved were dead.

Mikey heard a scream and turned around. He could see his brother, kneeling on the ground, screaming his lungs off. He ran over to his older brother and fell to the ground next to him, "Gerard, they're dead. Mom and Dad are dead." he said, almost sobbing in Gerard's shoulder as they hugged each other.

Gerard didn't want to believe it. He wanted to think it was his neighbor's house, not his. "Where's Isa?" he asked. He was praying she was ok now. Mikey said she sent her home with Ray. Frank came over then but said nothing. He was afraid to say anything because it wasn't his house or family.

"Someone did it on purpose. I'll kill whoever the fuck did." Gerard growled.

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Isabella was sleeping in Ray's bed when Gerard and Mikey came over. Both Mr. and Mrs. Toro were sympathetic and allowed the brothers and Isabella to stay with them. The first thing that Gerard did was go upstairs to see Isabella.

She looked so beautiful as she slept. She was at peace. Hopefully she wasn't having bad dreams. She wasn't dealing with the problems right now and she wouldn't know Gerard had a guilty face. He didn't want to tell her he cheated on her. But if he hadn't slept with Mia, he would have been home and he would have been dead instead.

Gerard didn't want to wake Isabella. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and left the room. He was glad she was ok. If she had been in the house, he'd be so lost. More lost then he was already. He lost his parents though. The people he had loved but never showed loved to. He didn't treat them the way they should have been treated and now he felt terrible inside. Almost sick because of himself.

"Hey, Gee, you ok?" Ray asked Gerard as he came into the living room. He looked up weakly at Ray and nodded. Mikey was laying on the couch with his eyes closed, he was asleep. "I just can't believe this would fucking happen." Gerard said, sitting down on the couch next Ray.

Ray patted Gerard on the back, "It sucks, man. But I want you to know that you guys can stay here as long as you want. Me and my family are going to help you through this, ok?" he said. Gerard nodded and quickly hugged Ray, "You're my best friend, Ray. You're like my other brother." he said.

There was a knock at the door and Ray got up and opened it. Frank was laying on the ground, writhering in pain while a car began to speed down the road. "Fuck, Frank! Are you ok?" Ray asked, kneeling over Frank, afraid to touch him. What made his stomach turn was that Frank had a sign on his back, stapled into his flesh. Ray took a deep breath and pulled the staple out of his back, making Frank moan in pain and curl up into a fetal postion.

Frank spit blood out on the WELCOME mat in front of Ray's door. Gerard and Mikey both got up and ran to Frank and Ray. "What happened?" Gerard asked Frank as he, Mikey, and Ray got Frank up and brought him in the house.

Frank groaned as the three men carried him, putting pressure on bruises they knew nothing about. "I don't know." Frank managed to moan out. He couldn't explain what happened and why. It was all too fast. He was walking up to Ray's door and some men jumped him and then ran off. He said that to the other three as he laid on the couch. Ray handed the piece of paper he took off of Frank's back and handed it to Gerard without even reading it. Gerard put the paper in his pocket, focusing more on Frank.

"Is anything broken?" Ray asked. Frank shook his head, "No." he said. Ray said he'd be right back and he ran upstairs to get a towel out of the closet and wet it in the bathroom. Isabella came out of Ray's room, looking like the dead, she was still very exhausted.

"What's going on?" she asked. Ray said Fank just got the shit beat out of him and Isabella found herself running down the steps to the living room where Frank laid.

Isabella couldn't believe it. Frank looked in so much pain. He lip was busted open and there was blood running from his hair, down his face. Isabella looked at Gerard and tackled, "You asshole!" she screamed and tried to hit him. Gerard was too shocked to do anything and Ray and Mikey pulled her off of him.

"What the fuck?" Gerard yelled, touching his cheek. A light bruise would soon appear there. Isabella thought Gerard had attacked Frank. She thought Gerard knew about her and Frank. Isabella collapsed on the floor and began to cry, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen." she said in tears.

Gerard fell to the floor beside her and hugged her tightly, "What did you do?" he asked. Frank spoke softly before Isabella could even answer, "We had sex."

Gerard looked at Isabella. He didn't want to believe what Frank just said but he knew it was true. Isabella looked at him, almost painfully, "It was an accident." she whispered.Gerard nodded and kissed Isabella on the forehead, "I know." he said.

"I shouldn't have hurt Frank. I'm sorry, too." Gerard apologized. Everyone looked at Gerard, a little confused as to why he apologized for something he didn't do.

Frank sat up, clutching at his side and gasping slightly. Ray made a move to help him but Frank shunned him away. "Can I talk to Gerard, alone?" he asked everyone.

Gerard wiped Iabella's tears away and kissed her on the forehead again and then told her to get more rest. He said she looked even more tired then before. She nodded and went upstairs and back to bed. Mikey and Ray left the two men and went downstairs to the basement.

"Why'd you tell her you did this?" Frank asked. Gerard looked down and said, "I saw the note Ray took off you. I didn't want to scare Isabella. I'm trying to protect her."

Frank was confused. He didn't even know what happened to the note after Ray took it off his back but now it was crumbled in Gerard's hand. "What does it say?" Frank asked. Gerard didn't know how to say it so he uncrumbled the note and handed it to Frank.

The note read:

Isabella Stagno will join her family in death. The longer she lives, the more friends will die.

Frank looked at Gerard, "What's this about?" he asked. Gerard explained to Frank about Nino and his and Isabella's family's relationship and how Isabella was in danger.

"There going to kill her?" Frank asked. Gerard shook his head and clenched his fists, "Not if I can help it." he responded.

What the two men didn't realize was that Isabella was sitting at the top of the steps, listening to every word they said. She covered his mouth as she cried and then got up and locked herself in Ray's room. She took an old bookbag from Ray's closet and grabbed some of his clothes.

How could she be put in this position? She never did anything to Nino's family. She was just a little girl at the time. There had to be something else.

Isabella took some money from Ray's nightstand and then opened the window and climbed out. Isabella climbed down on the drain that ran up the wall to the gutter. She got down safely and started running as fast as she could, wishing she could say goodbye to Gerard but she knew she couldn't. Gerard would never let her go, even if it seemed to be the only thing to do.

Gerard looked at Frank, wondering if he should tell him about his relationship with Isabella. It seemed Frank was thinking something similar to that. He wanted to ask Gerard about Isabella's mystery boyfriend but there was a strange sound coming from the back of the house and Gerard went out to look. He stuck his head out the back door only to see a figure go around the house.

Gerard ran to the front door and threw it open to see Isabella running down the road with a backpack. "Fuck!" he said and started running down the road after her but she was so much faster then him and Gerard had been smoking for almost 10 years now and he suddenly regretted it.

Gerard continued after Isabella, not caring that it felt like his lungs were on fire or that he muscles were screaming for mercy. What made him stop though was when he saw a car go speeding past him and stop in front of Isabella. Someone got out of the car and grabbed Isabella before she could react and threw her in the car. The person got back in the car and it speed off, turning the corner.

"No!" Gerard screamed. He knew chasing after the car would be useless. He fell to his knees and sceamed and sobbed on the sidewalk. Gerard couldn't believe his luck. First he lost his parents and his home, his best friend just got attacked, now his girlfriend just got kidnapped. How could his entire life collapse in one day?

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It had been two days since Isabella had been taken away. Gerard did nothing but lay on Ray's couch and stare at the ceiling. The house was vey quiet. No one wanted to say a word. Mikey cried to himself quite a lot but only in the privacy of the bathroom. Ray sat in the kitchen silently and cracked his knuckles. That was the most that was going on in the house.

Frank was in the hospital. He had to get surgery for something or another but he too, mourned Isabella's disappearance. He told himself that if only those men had killed him she'd be alive.

Gerard wondered at first, why he never called the police and then he remembered the note Isabella had around her neck the day Mikey found her. He wasn't supposed to read it, his parents told him not to but he did it anyways. The police were corrupt. He didn't know if it was still the same but he realized the police could do nothing.

The phone rang next to Gerard's ear and it made him jump. It scared him quite a bit. Ray came out of the kitchen and answered the phone. Gerard looked up at Ray with bloodshot eyes. And then Ray almost dropped the phone.

"She's alive." he said. Gerard jumped up and grabbed the phone, "Hello? Hello? Isabella, are you there?" he said. Isabella spoke to Gerard then, "Gerard, hey." she said. She was at a loss for words, she was so happy just to hear Gerard's voice. She was scared as well.

"Isa, are you ok?" he asked her. Isabella looked around the room. She was safe. Safe but scared and still in danger. "I'm fine, Gee. I'm with Nino, he's protecting me." Isabella said.

Nino had 'kidnapped' Isabella but he actually rescued her. She explained that to him and he felt a little better but he just wanted to hold Isabella in his arms. "When can I see you again?" Gerard asked her eagerly.

Isabella responded that she did not know. Gerard found himself in tears now, "I just want you back. I need to see you. I need to."

Isabella almost started crying but she tried to be strong. That was what Nino kept telling her. She had to be strong to get through this. "Gerard, I need you to listen to me. You need to be strong. We're never going to get through this if we break down. It'll be worth it in the end."

"OK, but I miss you so much. I'm so worried about you. We all thought you were..." Gerard said, afraid to tell her what he had been thinking but Isabella understood. Isabella was about to say something though but Nino came in the room and told Isabella to hang up, that someone was coming and they needed to hide.

When the line went dead on Gerard's end of the line he dropped the phone and started crying even harder. Ray picked up the phone and hung it up and kneeled down and hugged Gerard, "It's going to be ok." he said, trying to comfort his friend. Gerard shoved Ray back and got up, "You don't fucking know anything!" he screamed.

Mikey came running downstairs, "What's going on?" he asked looking at his brother who was ready to go on a real temper tantrum and Ray who was getting off the floor. Mikey's glasses covered his eyes well and no one could see the tears that clumped to his eyelashes. He had been crying but no one knew.

"She's alive." Gerard whispered to Mikey. Mikey found himself embracing his brother and he cried openly in front of Gerard and Ray.

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"It's safe, you can come out now." Nino said, sliding the bookcase away from the hidden doorway. Isabella came out of the small closet and took a deep beath of fresh air. They just had a close call. Someone unexpected had come. Nino's father.

Nino slid the bookcase back in it's place and led Isabella into his bedroom. "Get some rest, Isabella. Tomorrow we'll have to get you out of here. It won't be easy." he informed her as she laid on his bed.

Isabella sat up and brought her knees to her chest, "Am I ever going to see him?" she asked Nino. Nino knew Isabella meant Gerard. She had told him all about Gerard and Nino had promised that she woulds see him again, even if it meant his life was on the line.

"I'll get ahold of Gerard, I'll set up a meeting point. But rest now. You are still very weak and you'll need as much strength as you can get." Nino said, turning and walking to the door.

Isabella looked around the bedroom. It was dark and there were strange shaped shadows all around her. "Wait!" she creid out. Nino turned and looked at her and noticed she was shaking uncontrollably.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his eyes softened at her fragile state. Isabella looked at Nino, "Don't leave me alone. I'm scared." she said.

Nino nodded and laid down with Isabella. He put his arms around her and pulled her close to his warm body. This made it much easier for Isabella to relax and she soon fell asleep. Nino carefully pulled himself away from Isabella's sleeping figure and went out in the hallway to use the phone.

Nino called Ray's house and only got an answering machine. He cursed to himself, not wanting to talk to a stupid machine, he hung up. He had to get a hold of Gerard or anyone.

Nino knew where Ray's house was. He also knew Frank was in the hospital. So Nino said a quick prayer, checked on Isabella and called his driver down to the car and he headed to Ray's house as fast as possible.

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"What the fuck?" Gerard groaned as the door bel rang and there was pounding on the door. No one was in the house but him. Ray and Mikey were staying the night at the hospital with Frank and Ray's parents had gone to New York to visit a sick friend for the weekend.

Gerard had been sleeping on the couch, dreaming of being with Isabella. It was a good dream. The only good dream he had had since Isabella was gone. He got up though and went to the door and threw it open.

"What the fuck do you want?" Gerard said in a threatening voice. He was in quite a bad mood. Nino had been wearing a hat and he took it off, "I apologize. I'm Nino, are you Gerard?" he asked. Gerard's eyes went wide and he nodded, "Yes, I am. Where's Isabella?" he asked.

Nino looked around, "I think it's safer if we go in and close the door." he said. Gerard nodded and let Nino in the house and locked the door behind. Nino sat at the couch and looked up at Gerard, "She's safe at the moment. She's at my home in New York City. I plan on getting her out of the city tomorrow by dawn. I don't know where I'll take her but I think it'd be best if you knew."

Gerard looked around frantically but there was nothing to see. He couldn't believe, Isabella had to leave. "Where do you plan on taking her? Can I go with her? Can I see her?" he asked. Nino didn't know what to say.

"You can't take her away from me. She's all that I live for. If she goes, I'll have nothing left." Gerard begged helplessly. His hands gripped at his own shirt and he gritted his teeth nervously.

Nino looked at Gerard emotionless. He was thinking. After a few moments of unbearable silence, Nino stood up, "Come with me. I'll take you to Isabella." he said.

Gerard got up eagerly, "Thank you so much. You don't know how much this means to me." he said, putting his hand on Nino's shoulder. Nino nodded, "I understand but we need to hurry. I left one of my friends guarding Isabella."

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"Gerard, where the hell are you?!" Mikey called out to his brother. When he stepped into the house he expected Gerard to be on the couch but Gerard was no where to be seen. Ray came in a moment after Mikey and he was also surprised not to see Gerard on the couch.

Ray looked upstairs while Mikey checked downstairs and the basement but they couldn't find him anywhere. They met back in the living room, both were incredibly worried. "Do you think he just went out for the night?" Mikey asked hopefully.

Ray didn't want to be mean but he shook his head, "Think about it, Mikey. Gerard wouldn't just get up and go out with Isabella gone but he's not here." he said and sighed. Mikey looked down at his feet. He was very worried about Gerard now, making him fell more stressed then he already was.

"Do you think something happened to him?" Ray asked, walking across the room to the answer machine and checking to see if Gerard had possibly called. There was the sound of breaking glass and a flaming object flew into the room and landed only feet behind Ray.

Mikey and Ray both grabbed pillows off the couch and tried putting it out but several other flame balls came flying in the room. It only took a few moments before the room was cloudly. There was the sound of the windows upstairs being smashed and they both knew they had to get out.

There was the sound of screeching tires outside and Mikey tried to open the front door but something was keeping it from opening. "Fuck, it's blocked!" he yelled to Ray. It was getting incredibly warm and half the room was ablaze.

"C'mon!" Ray yelled and grabbed Mikey by his shirt and led him to the back door but they ended up getting the same results. Mikey looked at Ray, all he kept saying was that they were going to die but Ray wasn't ready to let that happen.

They headed over to the basement door but they were cut off when the grandfather clock standing in the hallway had caught fire and crashed down in front of the door. "Fuck!" Ray screamed as he pants caught fire. Mikey helped Ray pat it out by taking his shirt off but now it was a bad idea as he felt the skin on his back and chest burn witht he heat in the room.

"We're stuck!" Ray yelled to Mikey. Mikey shook his head, "I'm not dying like this, Ray!" he said and kicked over the flaming clock and kicked down the basement door. Ray and Mikey jumped over the clock, both getting burnt but made it safely and ran down the steps.

Ray looked around, "There, the window!" he yelled and ran to the window and tried to get it open. He made several attempts but it wouldn't open. Mikey looked around the basement and grabbed his bass. "Move!" he screamed and broke the window open with his bass.

Ray grabbed the bass and pushed it through the window onto the ground outside. "Grab Frank's guitar." he said. He couldn't believe he was risking his life for musical instruments but as the fire roared upstairs and the stairs in the basement caught fire, they got their instruments out except for the drum set.

"Get that chair!" Mikey ordered to Ray as he pushed Frank's guitar through the window. Ray went to grab the chair on the far side of the basement and then a beam from the ceiling that was on frie had fallen in front of him.

"Fuck." he muttered and ran back to Mikey under the window. "I can't get it. I'll help you out." he said. He hoisted Mikey up to the window and he climbed through. Another beam fell and Ray became scared.

Mikey stuck his arms in through the window, "Come on, hurry up!" he said. Ray grabbed Mikey's arms and Mikey used all the strength he could muster to pull Ray out. Ray used his feet on the wall below the window to help get up. He could feel the glass on the ground as his stomach was cut by it but he didn't care. They made it out.

Mikey's stomach was bleeding badly from the glass because he had no shirt on. They both got up though and grabed their stuff and ran out toward to the street and sat on the curb, both breathing deeply.

"We're alive." Mikey said happily and crying. Ray threw his arms around Mikey, "Thanks so fucking much man." he said and ruffled Mikey's hair.

It only took a few minutes before there were fire trucks and police cars and it looked almost the same as the day when the Way house was burnt down except it was night time. Ray and Mikey were sitting on the neighbor's lawn as they watched the house fall to the ground. Ray groaned and laid back in the grass, "How the fuck do I explain this my parents."

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"Come on, we need to take the elevator." Nino said to Gerard as they stepped into the lobby of the apartment building. Gerard was in awe at how amazing everything was. Renting an apartment here for a year was about as much as Gerard's house had costed total. It was insane.

The two men were silent in the elevator and rode it to the top floor, 99. "This way." Nino said, motioning Gerard to follow him as he led him down the hall. Nino knocked on the door in a strange way, signaling it was him coming in and then he opened the door.

"It's about time you showed up, Nino. I was worried you forgot about your little guest." came a deep voice with an accent similar to that of Nino and Isabella. Gerard got a feeling in the pit of his stomach that something wasn't right and when he heard the clicking sound of when the safety of a gun gets turned off, he knew he was in deep shit.

A gun was placed at Gerard's head and he was brought into the dark room where there was a shadowed figure on a couch. "Sit down, boy." The man said. Gerard was in no position to refuse so he sat down quickly.

"I'll assume you came for this." the man said, waving his hand toward a door in the room. Isabella came out with someone holding her hands behind her back and gripping at her hair. "She was a difficult one to get a hold of. Never have I had so much trouble killing someone, especially a mere child."

Gerard gritted his teeth, "Let her go." he growled. The man leaned forward the moon light that had shown through the window illuminated the man's face. He was old with grey hair and mountains of wrinkles. He looked like an angry man, one who rarely smiled.

The man smiled, "Do not worry, boy, for I have realized there are more important things to do with young Isabella." he said smoothly. Gerard didn't the tone of his voice at all.

"But first," the man started, "Let me introduce myself." The lights came on in the room and now he could see everything. "I am Anthony Duca the First. You, of couse, know my son, Nino. But that is besides the point."

Gerard glared at Nino but he was looking away. "You set us up!" Gerard spat at Nino. Nino didn't respond he just got up and left the room. Isabella was then pushed over toward Anthony. "She's a beauty. So young and spirited. She'd make an excellent wife one day." he said, touching Isabella's hair and face lightly.

Gerard wanted to attack Anthony but the gun pointed at him kept him at his seat. "What do you want with us?" Gerard asked coldly. He wasn't going to sound all pathetic and afraid even though he wished he were ssomewhere else. Anthony smirked ever so slightly and told Gerard, "As you are Isabella's legal guardian, I'll let you and her live if she'd marry my son, Nino."

"NO!" Isabella cried out. She didn't want to marry Nino. It was his fault they were in this mess and he wasn't even in the room to do anything about it. Gerard wanted to say no but he couldn't. Then it dawned on him, he wasn't Isabella's guardian. He remembered that his parents never really adopted her.

Gerard looked Anthony straight in the eye, "I'm not her guardian." he said, smirking. Anthony's smirk was now wiped off his face, "What d you mean?" he asked but more like commanded Gerard. Gerard was smiling now, showing all her teeth, "My parents never adopted her so I can't let you marry her." he said.

Anthony shoved Isabella down to the ground and pulled a gun out of his suit jacket, "Who is her guardian?!" he screamed. Gerard panicked slightly now as Anthony put the gun to Isabella's forehead, "Tell me now." he demanded.

Gerard shook his head and yelled, "I don't know!" Anthony took the gun away from Isabella and walked over to Gerard and grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him up, "I should kill you this moment, you freak." he muttered in Gerard's face.

Isabella stood up, "Anthony, I accept your offer to marry Nino." she said confidently. Gerard's eyes went wide and he looked at Isabella and thought 'What the hell is she doing?' Anthony was quite surprised as well and he let Gerard go and walked over to Isabella.

"And your entire fortune, will you give it up as well?" Anthony asked. He seemed thrilled at the moment. Isabella looked at Gerard. He was heartbroken now but she nodded. Anthony was smiling, "Excellent."

"How do you plan on doing this if she has no guardian? You'll have to wait till she's 18, then." Gerard said stubbornly. Anthony rolled his eyes, "Then we'll get her a guardian, Mr. Way."

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"Hey, Frank." Mikey said as he came in Frank's room. Frank was watching while picking at the stitches on his arm. He looked up at Mikey and gave him a weak smile and put his arm down. Mikey shook his head, "Dude, you have got to stop playing with your stitches or nothing will ever heal." he said.

Frank just shrugged and sighed, "Any news on Isabella?" he asked eagerly. Frank knew the answer but it still pained him when he said no. Mikey had yet to tell Frank that Gerard was missing. It had already been 3 days since he had disappeared. Mikey kept telling himself that he was somewhere nice with Isabella but it didn't work.

"Frank, there's something you should know." Mikey said. Frank's eyes closed, he knew it was going to be bad news. Nothing was ever good news. Lately everything was going downhill and Frank wondered how even Mikey and Gerard could cope.

Mikey took a deep beath, "Gerard's gone missing. He's been gone for 3 days and we don't know what happened to him."

Frank almost choked on his own own spit, "Did he go looking for Isa? Did something happen to him?" he asked, clencing his blanket in his fists. Mikey shook his head, "I don't know but there's more."

Frank threw his head back and sighed, "I know it's baf so just spit it out." he said in a frustrated groan. Mikey nodded slightly, "Ray's house was burnt down right after Gerard went missing."

"My guitar..." Frank started to say but Mikey interrupted him, "It's ok. We got all the guitars and shit out except for the drums. We almost died for the guitars."

There were no words that could describe how Frank felt. The one girl he had ever loved was gone, the band was falling apart now that his best friend was gone as well. What else could happen. Frank felt like he had bad luck and he screamed in the inside for some peace.

"Mikey, can you just go. I need to be alone for awhile." Frank said. Mikey nodded and left the room. Frank grabbed his pillow and muffled his screams.

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Isabella and Gerard sat together on the couch. Nino and another man were in the room watching the couple. It had been a few days since the confrontation with Anthony and Isabella was still very scared no matter how hard she tried to hide it. She was shaking and Gerard held her close.

"You know, I coul have sworn you promised my brother you would protect her. You're going to fucking hell, pig!" Gerard spat at Nino. The man with Nino was the one who was guarding Isabella when Nino went to get Gerard. But the man got up and pulled his gun out, "Watch what you say to my master." he growled.

Nino put his hand on the man's arm and had him lower his gun, "Stop it, Joey!" he yelled and took the gun from him. "So tell me, what's the deal with this fortune? Didn't your dad get it when Isabella's dad died?" Gerard asked as he held Isabella a little tighter.

Isabella didn't know the answer either so she looked up at Nino. He lowered his head and said quietly, "Your father put a large sum of money away and when you were 18, you would have been able to claim it. That's how my father knew you were alive. I had no clue he was planning anything."

"Liar!" Gerard yelled. Once again Joey tried to attack Gerard but was held back. Gerard got up, being careful not to push Isabella too much. "Do you want to hit me? Go the fuck ahead. It'll do me some good! My life sucks already so why not add a broken nose? come on and hit me!" he sreamed.

Isabella grabbed Gerard by the arm, "No, Gerard, stop!" she yelled and tried to pull him back down on the couch. Joey pushed past Nino and dove at Gerard. Isabella screamed and covered her eyes and when she uncovered them she was surprised to see Joey knocked out on the ground.

"You are quite the fighter." Nino complimented Gerard. Gerard frowned though, "Sucking up ain't gonna make me like you more.'

Nino shook his head, "How about if I get you two out of here?" he suggested. Isabella and Gerard looked at each other and then to Nino. They both nodded eagerly and got up. Nino grabbed his car keys by the door and quickly led them out of the apartment.

"Hurry, Be very quiet." Nino whispered. Gerard followed behind Nino and thought that he wasn't so bad after all. It was Anthony that was the real fuck head and he controlled Nino when he was around. Nino wanted a rebellion and this was it.

Gerard was holding Isabella's hand as Nino led them to the stairwell. They couldn't take the elevator because someone was standing there. It was a loooooong way down and they went as fast as this could. Gerard kept his grip on Isabella's hand. She was too exhausted for any of this. She needed sleep and she hadn't been able to get any since she was afraid.

"Wait!" Gerard yelled to Nino. Nino stopped and Gerard picked up Isabella and put her on his own shoulder, "Let me carry her." Nino suggested. Gerard looked at Nino. Nino WAS stronger. He was quite muscular so Gerard had Isabella go with him.

Nino picked her up and nodded his head toward the stairs and they continued there way down. It took almost a half hour because they were going so damn slow. Gerard was slow because he was a smoker and Nino was slowed down by Isabella.

When they reached the bottom Nino had to put Isabella down and he looked at her and said, "You need to walk now. If anything happens you're going to need to run." Nino said. Isabella lazily nodded.

Nino was about to push open the door to go out into the main lobby but it opened toward them and three men stared at them. In the center was Anthony who was smirking.

"Well, look who it is. I was just coming to get you, Isabella. We have some legal matters to discuss and this man is here to measure you for your wedding gown." Anthony said. Isabella's heart dropped like a stone. She was so close to freedom.

Anthony glared at Nino, "I must say, you are a pitiful excuse for a son. I get better results from Joseph." he said. Nino looked a little surprised, "Joey is my friend. He doesn't do shit for you."

Anthony had a good, quick laugh, "Nino, my boy, don't you realize he works for me? What have I always told you? Of course, you'd never remember. Our hired help are not our friends no matter how much you think they are."

Nino clencehd his fists at his side. He was so upset now. His own 'friend' was not his friend and tricked him. It was Joey who told everything to Anthony. Nino swore he'd get his revenge.

"That's nice, now come Isabella. Say good bye to Gerard." Anthony commanded Isabella. She didn't move. Anthony grew impatient and reached at to grab her but Nino jumped in the way and tackled his own father.

There was a loud metallic clank on the ground and a gun was at Isabella's feet. Gerard screamed at Isabella to grab it but she froze. She couldn't move, she was too scared to move. Gerard shoved her aside and picked up the gun as the father and son fought on the ground.

The two men that were with Anthony had guns out, ready to shoot Nino and not paying attention to Gerard or Isabella. They couldn't shoot Nino without hitting Anthony. Gerard took advantage of it and said, "Forgive me God." in a whisper and shot both men in the leg. He couldn't dare kill them.

Both Nino and Anthony froze and looked at Gerard. Gerard now pointed the gun at Anthony. There were screams in the lobby and people were running outside. The two men who now had leg wounds dragged themselves on the ground to get help. Gerard didn't care about them.

"Put that gun down, boy. You're making a big mistake!" Anthony screamed. Gerard shook his head and quickly kicked Anthony in the stomach. Nino used the chance to get out of Anthony's clutches as he moaned and curled into a ball on the floor.

Gerard glared down at Anthony, "Give me one fucking reason why I shouldn't just blow you mother fucking head off!" Gerard screamed, spit everywhere. Isabella was watching in awe, almost like it was a movie. She just couldn't will herself to move at all.

Anthony didn't answer Gerard. Gerard was too upset and didn't care anymore. "You're going where you fucking belong. Three cheers for sweet revenge, bitch!" he said and pulled the trigger. The bullet was aimed straight at Anthony's head and he slumped to the floor instantly. Blood oozed on the floor and Gerard turned away.

"Nino, I'm sorry." Gerard apologized. Nino nodded, he knew it had to be done and was grateful he didn't have to do it. "I think you two should go. I'll take the blame for it all." Nino said.

Isabella was about to say something but lost the words and ended up running to Nino and giving a huge hug. "Thank you so much, Nino!" she finally said, crying her eyes out. Nino kissed the top of her head, "I said I'd give my life for you and I guess that's what I'm going to do. Now get out of her. The police will be here soon." he said and urged Gerard and Isabella to leave.

Gerard quickly thanked Nino and grabbed Isabella's hand and they ran out of the building, free at last. "Pinch me, Gerard." Isabella said to him. He pinched and she yelped and punched him, "Hey, that hurt!"

Gerard rolled his eyes, "Duh!" he said sarcastically. There were sirens coming from every way they looked and police were soon surrounding the door the two had just walked out of. Isabella looked worried but Gerard put his arm around her and led her away from the scene, "He'll be fine. Now let's get the fuck out of here." he said.

Isabella nodded and started walking down the street with Gerard. she couldn't believe it. She was free. FREE! It seemed like it really wasn't real. That was the point of asking Gerard to pinch her.

"Gerard, how are we gonna get home?" Isabella asked.

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Frank was out of the hospital now and at home. Now it was Ray and Mikey living with Frank. Ray's parents were staying with a relative until they get find a new place to live. The tv was on in the living room and everyone was watching it. It was the news station and they were listeing to the report about some attack in New York City from the day before.

"That's fucked up." Frank said and sighed. He was trying to clear Isabella from his mind but it was no use. She was gone. Why couldn't he just get over it?

There was a knock at the door and Frank made an attempt to get up, forgeting about his injuries and groaned in pain. Mikey got up though and opened the door instead. Frank turned his head to see who it was and so did Ray.

Mikey was blocking Ray and Frank's view of the door. Mikey was in awe. Standing before him was his brother and Isabella. Both looking like shit, but alive. Alive! "HOLY SHIT!" Mikey screamed and dove on them.

Ray got up quickly and ran over